During European Sustainable Energy Week, we hosted a series of workshops which Jim Mather, MSP, Minister for Enterprise Energy and Tourism chaired at Scotland House in Brussels. These aimed to consider the role that the North Sea and Atlantic regions can play in the development of low carbon and renewable energy infrastructures.
Its key objectives were to:
- Map out and agree a vision for the deployment of low carbon and renewable energy resources in the North Sea & Atlantic regions;
- Consider the need for an EU-wide strategic alliance or association focusing on the production of energy in the offshore marine area, especially the North Sea & Atlantic;
- Agree steps that can be taken by industry, member states and the EU institutions to deliver the SER vision of a North Sea Offshore Grid for renewable energy;
- Agree a work programme on which researchers, environmental regulators, member states, the Commission and industry can co-operate to demonstrate an EU CO2 transport and storage network focused on the North Sea;
- Consider how to promote best practice in reconciling EU environmental and energy policy objectives in the deployment of renewable energy resources.
The first workshop was on deploying marine renewable energy in the EU and the need for a strategic marine alliance. Speakers were:
Following the speakers, Mr Mather chaired a mindmapping session to address a number of questions.
The second workshop was on Carbon Capture and Storage - developing a European CO2 transport and storage network. Speakers were:
Following the speakers, Mr Mather chaired another mindmapping session to address some important questions regarding CCS.
These workshops were followed by a presentation by Colin Imrie, Head of the Energy Markets Division, Scottish Government, on an Intelligent Energy for Europe proposal which we intend to submit for this year's Call.