Ten EU Countries Create Europe's 1st Renewable Energy Grid

By: Theodora Filis

Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have teamed up to plan a €30 billion ($43 billion) sustainable energy project in the North Sea as part of efforts to address climate change and expand renewable energy. 

The plan is to connect the alternative energy projects of these ten nations to create Europe's first renewable electricity grid through a 6,000km network.

The grid, which will be fully operational in 2020, would allow the EU countries to share renewable electricity throughout the continent and the British Isles. A shared-nation grid would also allow the British Isles and mainland European nations to diversify their energy supplies, while at the same time cutting emissions and developing technology to ensure resources in an uncertain future.

“Large-scale interconnection with our European neighbors is vital if we are to connect up our massive offshore wind potential and integrate it into European Markets,” Dr. Gordon Edge, Renewable UK’s director of policy, explained during a press conference.

The memorandum seeks to deliver an offshore electricity grid that will facilitate the interconnection of wind farms with those countries separated by the North Sea and Norway, increasing the use of renewable electricity while making it more affordable for European citizens.

The ‘super grid’, developed by the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK will link German and British offshore wind farms, Norwegian hydroelectric plants, and Belgian and Danish tidal power stations with undersea cables in order to compensate for the irregular nature of renewable energy.

Headlining the ambitious project is Scotland, which is at the center of the North Sea grid. Speaking about the project, Energy Minister Jim Mather said: “Scotland is playing a key role in the development and deployment of an interconnected offshore grid in the North Sea, recently highlighted as a European Union priority project.” 

The ISLES project (Irish Scottish Links on Energy Study) has been made possible through the collaborative efforts of three nations: Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland.

The Greatest investment opportunity of the 21st Century could prove to be sustainable energy. The combination of all viable renewable energy resources, coupled with energy efficiency, conservation, and smart grid development will lead Europe to energy independence and a cleaner, more sustainable energy infrastructure.