The Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association (NOGEPA), the Netherlands Wind Energy Association (NWEA), the Dutch Foundation for Nature Conservation and Environmental Protection, TenneT and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) have signed a Declaration of Coordination and Cooperation in the North Sea Region.
The organisations, which signed the agreement for closer cooperation on 15 June at the Gas Meets Wind – North Sea Energy Symposium, said they want to create a safe, sustainable, affordable and reliable energy supply that is in balance with the North Sea’s ecosystem.
On 6 June, the EU member states confirmed their political willingness to work together in the North Sea region in a political declaration . Creating a Northern Energy Region will enable the countries around the North Sea to combine gas and wind power in an efficient way. The project involves accelerating the development of offshore wind farms and the offshore network at an affordable price, as well as ensuring that the fossil fuel that is still needed is produced as cleanly and efficiently as possible.
The industry must step up its efforts to tackle three challenges: reducing carbon emissions, creating a stable electricity grid, and achieving a good balance in energy storage, the Netherlands EU Council Presidency said and added that governments and organisations need to work together to coordinate the many North Sea initiatives in the areas of research, innovation and system integration, as well as logistics, communication and community-building.