Wind farm construction in the North Sea. Photo: © ShDrohnenFly/ Shutterstock.com

New parliamentary vote to ramp up offshore wind production in EU

More offshore renewable energy is needed to meet Europe’s climate goals, but permits for new sites need to be approved quicker, according to the European Parliament.

On 16 February the European Parliament voted on an own-initiative report on the European Commission’s offshore energy strategy (published in November 2020). The report was adopted with 518 votes in favour, 88 against, and 85 abstentions. The report proposed a massive expansion in offshore wind capacity to reach 60 GW by 2030 and 300 GW by 2050. For wave and tidal, the goals are 1 GW by 2030, rising to 40 GW by 2050.

The vote shows that the Parliament welcomes the Commission’s strategy, while proposing additional focus areas. The main bottleneck to be addressed is the permitting process, which needs to be simplified. MEPs called on the Commission to make offshore wind a core component of the EU’s energy system by 2050 as well as considering the impact of increasing the 2050 target from 300 GW to 450 GW. The need to boost investment in “circular and nature-inclusive” projects was also stated. MEPs highlighted that offshore wind farms can benefit marine biodiversity if they are designed and built sustainably. The circular focus can contribute further to a sustainable future for the clean energy sector and this will both increase the efficiency of the decarbonisation and reduce the reliance on material imports .

The latest report from WindEurope, published on 24 February, shows that in 2021 the EU installed 11 GW of wind power and is estimated to install an average of 17.6 GW between now and 2026. The sector needs 32 GW to reach the EU’s target of 40% of renewables in its energy mix by 2030. Giles Dickson, CEO of WindEurope commented: “Land is not the issue. Finance is not the issue. Technology is not the issue. Public opinion is not the issue. It’s the sheer complexity of the permitting procedures.”

Energy commissioner Kadri Simson said: “On permitting, we know that we face one of the key challenges for project development in the EU. So we are doing everything we can to make sure that member states coordinate, streamline and facilitate the process.” Furthermore, the EU executive plans to provide guidance on good practices this summer to address what she called “overly complex and excessively long administrative procedures”.

The permitting process can be simplified by, for example, setting up single points of contact for developers and introducing time limits for issuing permits and authorisations.
However, the permit process should include local communities and should not come at the expense of protected areas. The report seeks to increase public support through “transparent and meaningful involvement of coastal communities” as well as “one-stop shops” to provide information on how to fund “breakthrough” demonstration projects.
In a statement published after the vote, rapporteur Morten Petersen (Danish Renew Europe lawmaker), said it was clear that MEPs “all understand the urgency of the matter and that we are putting offshore renewable energy front and centre in the fight against climate change”.

Emilia Samuelsson

 1Read more in Acid News No.3 2021 “Material recovery opportunities from the clean energy sector”.
 2 European Parliament demands quicker deployment of offshore renewable energy, Euractive, 18 February, https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/european-parliament-demands...

Take part in the EU’s public consultation to speed up the renewable energy permitting processes

When it comes to the bottleneck in speeding up the permitting process for renewable installations the EU Commission has promised to publish guidance to member states. While the 2018 Renewable Energy Directive introduced rules on the organisation (single contact points) and maximum duration of the permit-granting process, stakeholders have emphasised how additional guidance, such as the sharing of good practice, would help provide further improvement on the ground.
The European Commission therefore opened two public consultations on 18 January 2022 as part of plans for a dramatic increase in solar and wind power capacity. The first consultation is on guidance for improving permitting and power purchase agreements , and the second focuses on solar energy . Both consultations will run until 12 April.

 

Illustration: © Lars-Erik Håkansson

A just transition in EU farming

The EU needs to plan and act for a just transition in agriculture, is the message in a new report. Not only because it is fair, but also to mitigate the resistance to change.

Editorial: Peace a prerequisite for a sustainable Europe

Like many others, I have a hard time focusing on anything else than the Russian war against Ukraine right now. AirClim has been working for a long time ...

Dirty air harms birds and bees

New evidence shows that birds and bees are also affected by the air pollution we humans emit. Birds seem especially vulnerable to ozone ...

Photo: © Laura Balvers/ Shutterstock.com
New innovative way to store carbon. Photo: © Vivida Photo PC / Shutterstock.com

EU innovation fund: Most of it goes to CCS

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) featured highly when the European Innovation Fund for innovative low-carbon technologies shortlisted its first large-scale projects in November.

Stockholm Exergi is a combined heat and power plant that runs on biomass. Now the plan is to ship the CO2 to CCS facilities in Norway. Photo: © Roland Magnusson / Shutterstock.com

Case study: Stockholm BECCS

BECCS(a)STHLM is a CCS project storing CO2 from a biomass power and heat plant in Stockholm, Sweden. The plant was built in 2016 ...

Solar parks can benefit bumble bees

If solar parks are managed as meadows they could provide valuable habitats for polinators.  This is an example of how renewable energy and nature conservation can work together.

Photo: © inacio pires / Shutterstock.com
Photo: © Phoenixns / Shutterstock.com

Fossil fuels behind a quarter of PM deaths

Burning of coal, oil and gas caused most of the fine particle (PM2.5) related deaths in industralised countries, shows a new study. Shipping and farming had higher impacts than are widely recognised.

Burning of agricultural waste is still practised in parts of Europe. Photo: © Bilanol / Shutterstock.com

Farm emissions high on Air Convention agenda

The last CLRTAP meeting featured a new guidance on agricultural waste burning, a new assessment report on ammonia, and the inclusion of methane in the revision analysis.

EU paves the way for carbon farming credits

All farmers should have access to carbon emission and removal data for their land by 2028. Carbon credits play a key role in the EU Commission’s plans to boost carbon sequestration on farmland.

The Commission will consider applying the polluter-pays principle to emissions from agriculture. Photo: © Faraonvideo / Shutterstock.com
If you know the feeling of having a favourite toy, you know how the IEA feels about nuclear power. Photo: © StunningArt / Shutterstock.com & © ibrandify gallery / Shutterstock.com

IEA "net zero" scenario shows little faith in renewables

“If you continue to invest in dirty energy, you risk losing money. If you invest in clean energy, you can make some handsome profit”, said Fatih Birol, head of the IEA when he launched its annual World Energy Outlook (WEO) in October. The new WEO marks a substantial change for the organisation and the international establishment. That change is a victory for NGOs’ efforts to make Paris and 1.5 degrees the new normal.

Image: © Intrepix / Shutterstock.com & © gnepphoto / Shutterstock.com

CCS projects around the world

The situation for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)  in Canada, Norway and Italy.

Wind and solar power cheapest energy

New nuclear, new coal and new gas are far more expensive than wind and solar, according to financial advisor and asset management firm Lazard. Renewables can even beat existing fossil and nuclear power under some circumstances.

Photo: © CandyRetriever / Shutterstock.com
The cleanest, cheapest form of energy is energy that is not used; everyone should be able to get their homes renovated. Photo: © Natalia Lebedinskaia / Shutterstock.com

EU renewable heating manifesto: “We need to heat our homes, not the planet”

During the ongoing EU energy policy revision, a coalition of Europe’s biggest environmental groups has pushed for renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions as well as rejection of fossil fuel boilers.

Wind farm construction in the North Sea. Photo: © ShDrohnenFly/ Shutterstock.com

New parliamentary vote to ramp up offshore wind production in EU

More offshore renewable energy is needed to meet Europe’s climate goals, but permits for new sites need to be approved quicker, according to the European Parliament.

Green certificates a Swedish success

By 2002, wind power in Sweden and Norway was less than 0.5 TWh, far behind Denmark’s 4.4 TWh. In 2003, green certificates  were introduced ...

A political compromise proved to deliver high volumes of green power at a low cost. Photo: © Magnus Binnerstam / Shutterstock.com
Experiments at lake Chaka on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau found that salinisation increased methane formation due to microbial processes. Photo: © Ian.CuiYi / Shutterstock.com

A saltier world is to be expected

Sealevel rise and increased evaporation due to climate change cause salinisation of freshwater. Salinisation of wetlands may also lead to higher emissions of greenhouse gases.

Photo: © Markue / Shutterstock.com

High hopes for German renewables reform

Germany’s government has initiated the first steps in a wide-ranging renewables reform that should  ...

64% of all reported exceedances linked to dense traffic in urban centres and proximity to major road. Photo: © samoila ionut/ Shutterstock.com

Road traffic cause most NO2 exceedances

The European Environment Agency (EEA) has recently published a briefing on managing air quality ...

Achieving the interim target of 10 µg/m3 would mean 388,000 fewer days of asthma symptoms a year. Photo: © Laura Stubbs/ Shutterstock.com

Brits could breathe air in line with WHO interim target by 2030

If the UK government implements its planned environmental, transport and clean air policies, most UK ...

Photo: © Patrick K. Campbell / Shutterstock.com

Amazon nears climate 'tipping point'

Savannification" of the Amazon would be hugely disruptive, in South America and across the globe.

Photo: © norph / Shutterstock.com

Dutch government launches ambitious climate and wind energy package

The coalition government took office nine months ago. Now they have agreed to cut CO2 emissions from the Netherlands by at least 55%-60% ...

Ship leaving Piraeus, Attica, Greece. Photo: © Aerial-motion / Shutterstock.com

Mediterranean Sea could become a low-sulphur fuel area by 2025

The EU, together with countries around the Mediterranean Sea, committed to further efforts to ...

Photo: © Chim / Shutterstock.com

Even low levels of PM2.5 can increase health risks

Air pollution below current air quality standards in Europe has been linked to mortality. In a large joint research ...

Photo: © Kudryashka / Shutterstock.com

Updated urban air quality atlas

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has recently published its Urban PM2.5 Atlas 2021 report.

Protest against the poor air quality in Belgrade, in November 2021. Photo: © NikolaVukovic / Shutterstock.com

Serbia’s first air quality programme

Serbia is launching its first draft air protection programme and an air pollution action programme.

Decades of chronic coal pollution in Turkey have led to a large, unacceptable health burden. Source: © Bermek / Shutterstock.com

Coal pollution has killed 200,000 Turks since 1965

HEAL’s new analysis on “Chronic coal pollution Turkey: Cumulative health effects” highlights that the country’s ...

Fishing boat close to coral reef in Indonesia. Source: © Ethan Daniels / Shutterstock.com

Millions of people may be affected by loss of coral reefs in Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean

Although corals occupy only a small part of global sea areas, they are extremely important for marine biodiversity, including sectors ...

99.7% of Polish land is excluded from wind investments due to distancing rules. Photo: © Pawel Fiejdasz / Shutterstock.com

Unlocking onshore wind in Poland

A new report from Ember highlight s that Poland’s onshore wind policy is not compatible with the EU’s climate targets.

Photo: © ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com

New Zealand wants to charge road users for air pollution, noise and GHG emissions

Early this year the New Zealand Ministry of Transport published a consultation document “Driving Change: Reviewing the Road User Charges System”.

Photo: © Cristian Storto / Shutterstock.com

Dutch government plan for farm buyouts

The Netherlands aims to reduce the total cattle herd by 30% over the next seven years, mainly by buying out farmers. Documents from coalition ...

Photo: © William Edge / Shutterstock.com

Northern Ireland gets its first climate bill

Northern Ireland will soon get its first climate change bill. It includes a target for net-zero emissions by 2050 ...

Photo: © Uvarova Yana / Shutterstock.com

War is no excuse to weaken Farm to Fork

More than 85 environmental and agriculture organisations have written an open letter calling on the EU ...

Excretions from insects like the black soldier fly may promote plant growth when mixed into soil. Photo: © Sander Freitas / Shutterstock.com

Insect poop can be used as a fertilizer

Insect frass is simply the faeces of insects. Researchers have concluded that the frass is rich in nitrogen as well as other nutrients ...

Marine heatwaves in the Bay of Bengal cause heavier monsoon rains. Photo: © Ian.CuiYi / Shutterstock.com

Accurate monitoring of marine heatwaves needed for the Indian Ocean

A recent study shows that marine heatwaves in the Indian Ocean affect the Indian summer monsoon rainfall.

Photo: © Markus Stappen / Shutterstock.com

International Ocean Acidification Action Week

Ocean Acidification (OA) caused by carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels puts our seas at danger.

In brief

Germany’s GHG emissions increased by nearly 5% in 2021

Germany’s greenhouse gas emissions increased by 4.5 per cent between 2020 and 2021, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has said in its annual report on emission trajectories.

The country's Federal Environment Agency warned that the “Corona windfall profits” in terms of emissions reduction are being lost too quickly. The government said it wants to tackle the lack of structural changes in the buildings and transport sectors, both of which failed on their specific emission reduction targets. The economy and climate ministry said it plans to reap the double benefits of energy independence and climate action, with an emergency programme that is to triple renewable capacity expansion. A “heat pump boom” is also expected this year, as households strive to become independent from Russian fossil fuels.

Source: Clean Energy Wire 15 March 2022, https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/emissions-45-2021-after-pandemic-sl...

Delay in Euro 7

The European Commission meeting on the Euro 7 proposal, “Development of post-Euro 6/VI emission standards for cars, vans, lorries and buses”, has been delayed. Instead of being discussed at the beginning of April it will now be discussed on 20 July 2022.
Details of meetings are at ec.europa.eu/transparency/documentsregister/detail?ref=SEC(2022)2405&lang=en

Honeycomb-shaped floating wind farm may be cheaper to operate

The mooring design is based on the traditional technologies from the mooring of oil & gas floating structures. Once a turbine is installed on a floater, it is anchored to the mooring system to ensure the platform stays in its original target position while limiting motion. With floating wind turbines connected in a “honeycomb” network, the solution enables new ways of applying well-proven mooring technology in new and more effective anchor-sharing configuration. It is believed that the solution could make marine operations more efficient and less costly and with lower environmental impact. This is partly due to lower pre-tension and line weight in the mooring system, opening the possibility of using smaller, less expensive vessels for marine operations and because the anchors are shared there is less impact on the seabed.

Source: Offshore wind 15 February 2022, https://www.offshorewind.biz/2022/02/15/honeycomb-inspired-floating-wind...

Changing Ocean Asia documentary

Liz Courtney, who is an award-winning maker of films and documentaries, has directed and written the documentary series Changing Ocean Asia. The series focuses on how climate change is already affecting marine waters and the low-lying areas of Southeast Asia.
The documentary comes in four parts, namely:

  1. Sinking Cities of Asia
  2. Extreme Weather. Powerful Tsunamis
  3. Urban Oceans. Super Corals
  4. Sea Level Rise. Engineering Solutions

The documentary series is narrated by Dr Sylvia Earle, who is a globally renowned marine scientist.

Changing Ocean Asia is available on several platforms, which can be found here: https://earthobservatory.sg/news/eos-launches-changing-ocean-asia-docume...