Signing Ceremony of the Marine Grid Declaration - PCI Energy Days in Brussels

19 March 2019

15:00 – 15:30

Brussels, Belgium

Organised by: RGI

Increasing shares of renewables need to be integrated into the European power system to achieve the Union climate and energy targets. According to the 2016 TYNDP, it is envisaged that approximately one third of the needed future power grids, among them Projects of Common Interest, could be built in the marine environment. In response to this, RGI has sponsored the “Marine Grid Declaration” – an initiative which lays out a set of principles for the development of marine grids.

RGI Members, and further NGO and industry actors pledge to develop marine projects in line with principles of nature conservation and early stakeholder engagement. At the European Commission’s inaugural PCI Energy Days on March 19, RGI celebrates the signing ceremony of the Marine Grid Declaration. The Declaration lays out principles specific to grid deployment in the marine environment, including promotion of early two-way communication with stakeholders, adequate protection of the marine environment and knowledge sharing.

In doing so, it supports the smooth deployment of the offshore grid infrastructure needed to integrate a growing amount of renewables and meet Europe’s climate and energy targets. Signatories of the Marine Grid Declaration recognise the urgent need to develop and apply best-practice approaches for working in the marine environment. Indeed, it is expected that approximately one third of the needed power grids will be built in the marine environment, including to connect increasing quantities of offshore wind.