Harnessing the power of our seas will be crucial in reaching Net Zero – but we need a co-ordinated approach
The increasing use of o shore technologies across the oil, gas, wind, hydrogen and electricity industries make the seas a powerful asset for the UK’s Net Zero goals.
But without clear coordination, the opportunity to maximise these benefits will be constrained.
The busy seas and the marine environment around the UK are a vital but finite resource, under heavy demand for both use and protection.
While the UK Government has set an ambitious target to install 40 GW of o shore wind by 2030, we must now ensure we plan e ectively to fully utilise the pivotal role o shore energy could play in reaching Net Zero.
The government’s plan will take all of the current capacity, so an e ective strategy to deploy new renewable energy and grid networks, while adapting current infrastructure both on and o shore, is crucial.
Beyond this target, additional capacity of renewable energy, including o shore wind, will be required to meet the ultimate goal of Net Zero by 2050. All of this points to the importance of a much more joined-up approach in tackling the issue - the first step being full engagement with the whole energy industry in planned coordination.
Restrictions have also been identified on common cable landing locations across the
UK, with increased pressure in response to the new targets. The IET’s landscaping report maps the UK’s o shore cable landing points and grid connection models, reiterating the importance that both must be considered in a coordinated energy system.
Looking at the current market, there are at least 50 high-profile industry initiatives with over 500 participants in various interest groups and a significant number of smaller initiatives currently taking place. Of these initiatives, there are
16 key groups actively progressing o shore network integration.
There is surprisingly little overlap between these groups showing an urgent need to inform and implement opportunities for better integration.
The benefits of a joined-up approach stretch far wider than the UK’s Net Zero targets, not only in tackling these constraints and fractured systems but also in providing more e cient supply chains, better regulation, the creation of jobs and lower overall cost (including to the end user) to name a few.
It is evident there is a very clear, national shared interest in the optimum use of the o shore resource which puts us in a very good position. However, knowing how to get there is less studied and must now be a focus.
Areas such as the
Baltic region in the EU demonstrate to us that in an area where there is no market competition and generation, the industry is able to work together to develop a coordinated multi-purpose system.
We need to adopt this kind of coordinated approach should we want to maximise the benefits of all existing and emerging technologies to transition to Net Zero by 2050.