European nations agree on offshore North Sea electric grid

Capt'n Midnight

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11909048

Ministers from 10 European countries bordering the North Sea have agreed the construction of a new offshore electricity grid.

The grid will link countries across Europe and make it much easier for member states to trade energy.

It will also simplify the exploitation of the 140 Gigawatt offshore windfarm currently being planned in the North Sea.

Macha

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11909048

Thanks Capt'n Midnight. They don't actually state it, but the name of this group is the North Seas Countries Offshore Grid. It will be interesting to see the details of such a grid around Ireland as sketches I've seen tend to just focus on Ireland connecting into the UK with no grid connection to France, nor any offshore grid planned for off Ireland's west coast.

They're also talking of doing something similar off the Atlantic coast of the US, called the Atlantic Wind Connection. Google is one of the main backers. You can listen to a short interview on the subject here or read/skim through the transcript:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130592634

encyclopedia

Thats good news providing Ireland take advantage of it by becoming an energy producing country by using the wind energy we have available. Even if we don't become an energy economy it will allow Ireland to purchase more stable energy from European countries that is not fossil fuel reliant in turn increasing our energy stability and reducing our overall carbon footprint which can help to meet Kyoto Protocol objectives in the futre.

It seems that we will be connected via the UK alright although I'm sure I saw a planned connection from France and from Norway, if I find it I'll post the picture

encyclopedia

This suggests that a plan is being put in place to connect a grid through the UK and through France





From Here. and Here.

I'm not sure how reliable those sites are but they are the clearest images I could find. You can find out more by typing "planned europe supergrid" into google

Capt'n Midnight

http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Press+Releases/Ireland+and+nine+European+countries+agree+ambitious+renewable+energy+infrastructure+project.htm

“‘Supergrid’ vital for Ireland’s energy export potential” – Minister Ryan

Friday, 3 December 2010

Energy Minister Eamon Ryan today announced that formal preparations on the European energy ‘Supergrid’ project have begun.

In Brussels today, energy Ministers from ten European countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative, one of the most ambitious renewable energy projects worldwide.

The North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative is an ambitious partnership project between Ireland, the UK, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the Benelux Countries. It aims to:

Develop transnational grid infrastructure in the North and North West Seas
Facilitate delivery of large-scale offshore wind projects to vastly increase the amount of renewable electricity generated from North Seas wind and waves
Further secure European energy supplies and help deliver a market for renewable energy exports

Today’s agreement follows a political declaration of intent signed by the same countries (now including Norway) this time last year. It establishes a formal structure to proceed with the initiative. Work will focus on the coordinated development of offshore and onshore grids to ensure cost-effective and sustainable investment. Potential barriers to grid development, such as planning, legal or regulatory issues at national and EU level will be identified.

Minister Ryan said,

“This is the best policy decision taken in the EU since the 20-20-20 renewable energy and energy efficiency targets.

Ireland has been driving this agenda since the beginning. We have the best wind and wave resources in Europe, and political will to match.

This infrastructural project is set to be one of the biggest transnational power structures worldwide. It will ultimately connect offshore wind farms in Northern Europe allowing countries with surplus energy, to export to those with higher demand.

Ireland will be one of the primary export countries.

Today we move beyond political intent. This is action, it is happening.

I am proud of Ireland’s involvement in this project and I look forward to seeing it progress.”

ENDS

Note to editors:

As an island nation, interconnection and development of the electricity grid, both onshore and offshore, will be crucial for Ireland to benefit from our renewable resources. Further work is ongoing on increasing Ireland’s interconnection. The ISLES project is an in-depth feasibility study into the development of an offshore interconnected transmission network between western Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. As well as this, EirGrid is examining the possibility of further interconnection with the UK, and to France as well as undertaking an offshore grid study.

For further information contact:

Press Office

Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources

01 6782442