Executive Summary
North Sea as pioneering powerhouse in Europe’s energy transition
The North Sea region has a vast low-carbon energy potential and is set to take on the role of ‘Europe’s green power plant’. Europe has committed to reduce its emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This requires a massive rollout of offshore wind capacity, combined with emerging technologies like floating solar, offshore hydrogen production, transport & storage and carbon capture & storage (CCS), as well as the orderly phase-out of gas exploration and production. This will become very challenging without an integrated and coordinated approach for the North Sea. The North Sea Energy (NSE) research program utilizes the concept of Offshore System Integration to reduce the costs, time, emissions, space and capital needed to realize the central role of the North Sea envisioned in the energy transition. Smart synergies are possible between offshore wind, marine energy, CCS, natural gas and hydrogen developments. These are a unique opportunity for the North Sea countries to become and remain an important pioneering region and innovation nucleus for global offshore energy solutions.
The integral vision draws up the North Sea energy transition in balance with nature and society
The North Sea Energy consortium envisions the North Sea as a thriving energy region that has achieved carbon neutrality, perhaps even becoming a net negative carbon sink for Europe. Offshore energy system integration is seen as an enabler to accelerate low carbon and renewable energy options that provide reliable, low-cost energy sources for industry and other end-users on its coastline and in the hinterland. Strategic sector coupling allows deeper and faster reduction of CO₂ emissions, more efficient use of marine space and effective use of energy infrastructure for conversion, transport and storage of energy commodities. This secures livelihoods to millions of people and creates new sustainable jobs for the future. Finally, offshore system integration can provide synergies with non-energy stakeholders to develop solutions that have positive impacts on nature and safety as well as contribute to sustainable food production and to the circular economy.
The North Sea Energy Roadmap sketches pathways towards system integration in 2050
This North Sea Energy roadmap presents exploratory transition pathways for offshore wind, hydrogen, CCS, and natural gas in an integrated assessment towards 2050. These pathways build on insights that were collected during a participatory process with stakeholders inside and outside the consortium; and are in alignment with national and European strategy, ambitions and targets.
It shows that transition pathways for offshore wind, hydrogen, CCS, and natural gas are intertwined and cannot be treated in isolation. Together they enable a carbon neutral energy supply in 2050 in North Sea countries. This energy supply consists of 300+ GW (1450 TWh) of wind power, 30 GW (40 TWh) of ocean energy, 21 Mt (million tonnes) of green hydrogen production (partially offshore), 7.5 Mt of blue hydrogen production, net imports constituting 13.5 Mt of hydrogen and storage of 170 Mt CO₂ in 2050. More than 1600 TWh of green gas and natural gas is produced supporting the North Sea region’s export position and security of supply during the energy transition. All considered, the North Sea region contributes significantly to reaching the EU’s targets for offshore wind (200 GW), ocean energy (40 GW) and hydrogen (the RePowerEU ambition of 10+10 Mt of hydrogen produced and imported by 2030).
The Action Agenda identifies actions on short, medium and long term to realize a thriving North Sea
Challenges to reach the vision are the spatial challenges on the North Sea, alignment of stakeholder perspectives, complex decision-making by national and international stakeholders, gaps in the regulatory framework, sector boundaries and market conditions for long-term investments.
Within the consortium we have identified possible strategies to deal with these challenges and have formulated actions on seven main themes for all North Sea stakeholders. Additionally, we have identified sets of top three actions for six offshore energy technologies and commodities (offshore wind, marine energy, green hydrogen, blue hydrogen, CCS and natural gas) to accelerate their development and strengthen their role in the offshore energy transition. By performing these actions, stakeholders can take key steps towards harnessing the energy potential of the North Sea while respecting the carrying capacity of our economy, society and nature.