The CPMR celebrated its 51st General Assembly and 50th Anniversary the past 15 November 2023, in Saint-Malo (Brittany, France). Within this framework, CPMR and and Brittany Region organised the Seminar «The offshore renewable energy sector at the heart of the cooperation and development strategies of the Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe«.
The event gathered leaders and industry experts, who shared valuable insights on the development and associated challenges of Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE). They also emphasized the significance of this initiative in the regional and European context.
FLORES contribution to the event
Elsa García, from the FLORES partner CETMAR, participated as a speaker in one of the panel sessions. She highlighted the importance of promoting cooperation in skills for the development of the ocean renewable energy (ORE) sector.
Elsa presented the key added value of the Pact for Skills initiative and how the FLORES project is addressing the skills gap issues in the ocean renewable energy sector.
From the FLORES project she also strenghtened the relevance of European and national policy and funding support to boost and develop skills cooperation in the ORE.
Key messages from the session
- Strategic Priority: ORE has been established as a strategic priority, with significant political attention and an agreement among member states to guide the region towards carbon neutrality by 2050.
- Regional Perspectives: Leaders from Finland to the Basque Country and Sicily showcased a diverse approach to renewable energies, encompassing onshore wind energy to tidal power. Each region faces specific challenges such as logistics, marine topography (e.g., sea depth, distances to the coast), and social acceptance.
- Logistical and Environmental Challenges: Logistics and adapting to environmental conditions emerge as key challenges, particularly in the development of offshore wind energy. The need for regional governance to balance the interests of ORE, fisheries, and biodiversity is emphasized.
- Cooperation and Technological Development: The importance of collaboration between industry with universities and training providers is stressed, along with the continuous development of technology. The necessity for a region-specific, sea-scale strategy underscores the complexity of this challenge.
- Local Challenges and Opportunities: Specific challenges in offshore wind energy are highlighted, including competition, rapid technological evolution, and the need for flexible port infrastructure.
In summary, the seminar underscored the need to overcome technical, logistical, and social barriers to realize the potential of Offshore Renewable Energies.
As Europe advances towards a more sustainable future, cooperation, public acceptance, and technological innovation emerge as crucial elements for the success of ORE.
Elsa García, CETMAR
