ClientEarth’s additional comments to the Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation

ClientEarth argues that the European Commission's Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy must strictly adhere to environmental laws and the Aarhus Convention to avoid litigation and ensure sustainability. The organization emphasizes the need for regional cooperation and the harmonization of EU rules regarding grid access and offshore hybrid assets to efficiently scale offshore wind capacity, which is expected to reach over 250GW by 2050.

• Offshore renewable energy has significant potential in Europe, with expectations that over 250GW of offshore wind capacity will be installed by 2050, contributing to the EU's 2030 targets and 2050 climate neutrality commitment.
• The Offshore Strategy must ensure full compliance with environmental laws and the Aarhus Convention to prevent legal challenges that could deter investors and delay projects. This includes adhering to the Espoo Convention, the Habitats Directive, and the Birds Directive, as well as ensuring timely and meaningful public participation.
• To achieve fast deployment, the EU needs increased regional cooperation and the harmonization of regulatory frameworks among Member States. This includes optimizing grid access, the design of support schemes, and the regulation of 'offshore hybrid assets'—infrastructure that combines energy transport to shore with interconnectors.
• The lifecycle of offshore renewable energy facilities—including design, construction, operation, decommissioning, and recycling—must be aligned with the Circular Economy Action Plan to ensure overall sustainability.

APA

ClientEarth (2020). ClientEarth’s additional comments to the Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation. https://www.clientearth.org/media/eeslgbes/2020-09-01-additional-comments-to-the-offshore-renewable-energy-strategy-ce-en.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. ClientEarth’s additional comments to the Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation. 2020. https://www.clientearth.org/media/eeslgbes/2020-09-01-additional-comments-to-the-offshore-renewable-energy-strategy-ce-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=ClientEarth’s additional comments to the Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation |date=September 2020 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/eeslgbes/2020-09-01-additional-comments-to-the-offshore-renewable-energy-strategy-ce-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearth2020clientearths, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{ClientEarth’s additional comments to the Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy Consultation}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/eeslgbes/2020-09-01-additional-comments-to-the-offshore-renewable-energy-strategy-ce-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }