My Eco Movie Two

What will the Future of Energy in Europe Look Like?

Offshore renewable power like wind energy is replacing fossil fields to generate clean and affordable energy.

It is expected that by 2050, more than a quarter of Europe’s electricity will be generated from the sea up from 2% today (an increase of more than 24% from today).

Industrial giants are already leading this revolution, but small innovative startups with new ways of using offshore renewables, such as the Blue Energy Synergy in Denmark, are joining this industry. The company combines solar panels with vertical wind rotors, which could help energy turbines power water desalination in developing countries and on smaller islands.

The first sign of a changing tide was seen after the EU’s new strategy on offshore renewable energy which maps out the path to replacing imported fossil fuels across Europe.

Examples of Wind Farms in Europe

• The Borssele 0ne and Two Wind Farm in the North Sea, 22 km off the Dutch Coast, has 94 turbines at depths of 14-40 meters. The biggest wind farm in the Netherlands, it is expected to deliver electricity to one million Dutch households. It will also aid in powering a new electrolyzer plant that will produce renewable hydrogen to manufacture carbon neutral fertilizers.
• The Port of Ostend in Belgium, located 45 km off the coast, is in the final stages of construction.
• The future Krieger’s Flak Wind Farm,located in the  sea between Germany and Denmark, is connected to the two countries grid simultaneously, supplying electricity according to the highest demand and price.

Bottom Line                                             

New technologies like floating turbines are reducing costs and offering greater flexibility. This sector currently employs an estimated 62,000 European workers, and the demand for workers is rising. For instance, the Cherbourg factory in France, which produces the world’s largest wind turbine blades, 107 m long, has over 400 employees and recently hired hundreds more.