Eight countries around the Baltic Sea committed to the build-up of new offshore wind volumes in the Baltic Sea by agreeing to better energy cooperation, WindEurope announced Tuesday.
With enormous potential for offshore wind in the Baltic Sea, Wind Europe said that the eight countries: Germany, Denmark, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have committed to increase capacity from the current 2.8 gigawatts (GW) to 19.6 GW by 2030.
They also plan to consider a 2040 target at a later stage.
According to WindEurope, much of the region has been dependent on Russian energy imports until recently, but more offshore installations will help accelerate the phase-out of Russian fuel, increasing energy security in the region.
- Wind potential in Baltics
Germany and Denmark are the only Baltic countries with large-scale wind farms in the Baltic Sea, but WindEurope says they are determined to further increase their capacity.
Poland wants to have 6 GW by 2030 and 11 GW by 2040. In addition, Finland aims to have its first large-scale wind farm online by 2026-2027 and another by 2028.
'In Sweden 15 GW of projects are currently applying for permits. Some could be online before 2030. And Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all want to commission their first offshore wind farms before 2030 too,' the statement read.
By Gulsen Cagatay
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr