MOF, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 191: Kopi af Klima-, Energi- og Forsyningsministeriets notat Coexistence between renewable energy and biodiversity

Miljø- og Fødevareudvalget 2021-22
MOF Alm.del Bilag 191
Offentligt

Council of the

European Union

Brussels, 19 November 2021

(OR. en)

14061/21

ENER 509

ENV 904

TRANS 689

CLIMA 392

IND 359

COMPET 844

CONSOM 266

AGRI 561

INFORMATION NOTE

From:

To:

Subject:

General Secretariat of the Council

Council

Any other business

Coexistence between renewable energy and biodiversity

- Information from the Danish delegation

Delegations will find attached an information note prepared by the Danish delegation, on the

above-mentioned subject for consideration under "Any other business" at the meeting of the

Council (Transport, Telecommunications and Energy) on 2

December 2021.

___________________

14061/21

TREE.2.B

LZ/eh

MOF, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 191: Kopi af Klima-, Energi- og Forsyningsministeriets notat Coexistence between renewable energy and biodiversity

ANNEX

Coexistence between renewable energy and biodiversity

For the EU to achieve our climate targets there is a need to expand the capacity of renewable energy

significantly. According to the Commission’s ‘Strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy’, reaching

EU climate neutrality by 2050 will for example require 300 GW offshore wind capacity, which

corresponds to expanding the capacity by a factor of 25. That requires an annual deployment

approximately equal to the level of the entire current EU capacity.

The deployment is therefore at its core a Europe wide initiative, contributing with green electricity

and reductions across Europe. Member States are working together across borders to ensure that

electricity can flow where it is most needed and thereby contribute to a cost-effective path to EU

climate neutrality benefitting many member states.

By integrating large amounts of renewable energy into the grid, Member States will be able to

phase out fossil fuels and electrify key sectors such as transport and heating, while maintaining a

high security of supply and affordable consumer prices. Moreover, building out renewables and in

particular offshore wind at large scale will enable European leadership in the production of green

hydrogen, which will support emission reductions in hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy industry

and heavy transport.

14061/21

ANNEX

LZ/eh

TREE.2.B

MOF, Alm.del - 2021-22 - Bilag 191: Kopi af Klima-, Energi- og Forsyningsministeriets notat Coexistence between renewable energy and biodiversity

Regulatory framework to balance priorities

However, deployment of renewable energy at large scale, including offshore, requires a regulatory

framework that provides the right amount of certainty for Member States, developers and investors.

This includes a balanced approach to the question of co-existence between renewable energy and

biodiversity. It is of utmost importance that we find balanced solutions to accelerate the

development of renewable energy all over Europe without jeopardizing the protected nature. Co-

existence is the key going forward. Already, partnerships are being established between authorities,

renewable energy developers and biodiversity experts to ensure a responsible rollout, reflecting the

serious biodiversity and climate challenges facing the EU.

Parts of EU’s current relevant regulatory framework were

established decades ago and do not

reflect this reality. In some instances, there is a growing need to make difficult choices and give

priority to one interest at the expense of another. To this end, further work on updating the EU

framework is needed to guide the Member States in finding a better balance, when it comes to

renewable energy deployment and biodiversity. We would like to invite other Member States and

the Commission to engage in a dialogue on how to approach this issue in view of the Green Deal

and in line “fit for 55” ambitions.

_____________________

14061/21

ANNEX

LZ/eh

TREE.2.B