Coalition members discuss key challenges and opportunities for offshore wind in the region
The Black Sea Renewable Energy Coalition (BSREC) has been actively advancing the offshore renewable energy sector in the Black Sea region through the dedicated efforts of its three working groups: Regulatory Set-Up (WG1), Environmental Co-existence (WG2), and Enabling Infrastructure (WG3). Here is a summary of their progress to date.
WG1: Regulatory Set-Up
WG1 has been focusing on aligning the regulatory frameworks of Black Sea countries to streamline permitting procedures and foster a favorable investment environment. In their recent meetings, the group conducted a comparative analysis of regulatory frameworks, highlighting best practices to simplify legal steps and shorten procedural durations. They explored options for centralized tendering and the inclusion of non-price criteria to ensure local communities benefit from offshore wind projects. Additionally, WG1 examined legal provisions for risk management to create a favorable investment climate. Key outputs from WG1 include policy guidelines aimed at streamlining regulatory frameworks and enhancing deployment efficiency.
WG2: Environmental Co-existence
WG2 is dedicated to identifying planning bottlenecks and knowledge gaps related to the micro-siting of energy infrastructure in the Black Sea, while developing strategies to minimize environmental impacts. The group has mapped environmental risks, particularly in marine protected areas, and identified gaps in data on marine biodiversity, habitats, and ecosystems. WG2 has been working on developing standardized methods for assessing ecological impacts and discussing mitigation strategies to minimize negative effects on marine ecosystems. Recent discussions have emphasized the importance of active stakeholder engagement and biodiversity conservation. The anticipated output is a set of guidelines for maritime spatial planning and environmental risk mitigation.
WG3: Enabling Infrastructure
WG3 tackles the challenges of developing the necessary infrastructure to support offshore wind energy deployment. The group has been assessing the infrastructure needs aligned with countries’ offshore wind energy plans and evaluating the impact of the EU Grid Action Plan. They have focused on financing needs for enabling infrastructure, proposing cross-border projects and developing plans for port modernization. Insights from the Polish offshore wind infrastructure case study provided valuable lessons on potential projects, financing mechanisms, and strategic initiatives. WG3 has been particularly focused on grid connection capacity, port modernization, and attracting the offshore wind value chain to the region. The key output is a regional roadmap for infrastructure reinforcement to support the offshore wind industry.
The BSREC working groups have made significant progress in addressing the regulatory, environmental, and infrastructural challenges associated with offshore wind energy development in the Black Sea. Their collaborative efforts have laid the groundwork for a sustainable and efficient offshore wind industry, ensuring that the Black Sea region can fully realize its renewable energy potential. Continued cooperation among all stakeholders is essential to achieve long-term environmental and economic benefits for the region.
