Activities of Jutta PAULUS related to 2021/2012(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
A European strategy for offshore renewable energy (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on a European strategy for offshore renewable energy
Shadow opinions (1)
OPINION on a European strategy for offshore renewable energy
Amendments (40)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
— having regard to Directive(EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources,
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Citation 6 b (new)
Citation 6 b (new)
— having regard to the Agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris on 12 December 2015 (the Paris Agreement),
Amendment 7 #
Draft opinion
Citation 6 c (new)
Citation 6 c (new)
— having regard to the European Parliament resolution of 28 November 2019 on the climate and environment emergency;
Amendment 10 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission’s ambition to reach 340 GW of offshore renewable energy capacity by 2050 as a key element for the successful decarbonisation of transport and tourism; stresses that, as offshore wind capacity currently stands at just 23 GW, the building of offshore wind farms must be accelerated to reach that goal; underlines in this context that space for around 130 GW should be identified before 2023/2024 to allow construction by 2030; considers the massive expansion of offshore renewable energy generation, storage and distribution, and its full connection and integration into the energy grid, to represent an indispensable precondition for the widespread uptake of electric mobility and clean renewable transport fuels, such as hydrogen and ammonia in particular; calls, on therefore, Commission and the Member States to fully integrate future hydrogen demand in offshore wind deployment plans; urges the Commission to increase its goal of offshore renewable capacity to 340 GW which is required to keep temperature rises to 1.5°C; calls on the Member States to swiftly and massively step up their investments in offshore renewable energy and to seize, in particular, the opportunity provided by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in this regard; emphasises that renewable energy alongside energy savings are the drivers for reaching a net zero emissions economy; in this context, acknowledges that, by 2030, the share of EU renewable electricity production should at least doubleor even better triplefrom today's level;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Recalls the EU’s commitment to achieving net zero greenhouse gases emissions target by2050 at the latest; stresses that these emissions should be reduced by at least 65% by 2030 compared to 1990 emissions in order for the Union to contribute to limiting global warming to less than 1.5°C by the end of the century, in line with the latest scientific evidence;
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the EU has endorsed the Paris Agreement, as well as the European Green Deal and the recently adopted European Climate Law, which set an ambitiousEU target of reducing greenhouse gases emissions by at least 55 % by 2030 and complementary goals, with the aim of achieving the EU’s net- zero carbon emission target by 2050 at the latest in order to fight the effects of global climate change; stresses that only a emissions reduction of at least 65 % by 2030 would be enough to reach the EU’s climate neutral target as well as, in line with the best available climate science, towards keeping global warming below 1.5°C;
Amendment 21 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Paragraph 1 b (new)
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the transition to a net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG)highly energy efficient and fully renewable economy requires a cleanrapid energy transition that ensures sustainability, security of supply and affordability of energy;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the dramatic fall in renewable offshore energlectricity prices has made it one of the cheapest sources of energy and consequently a critical element in the green transition, paving the way for a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy, and has also made it one of the most important pillars of the EU’s climate ambitions;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that most outermost regions and islands are still highly dependent on fossil fuel imports in spite of having opportunities for renewables; highlights that without a rapid phase out of fossil fuels and fossil fuel subsidies and a massive increase in offshore wind energy production, realisation of renewable energy goals and limiting global warming to less than 1.5 °C by the end of the century would be impossible; reminds that islands are particularly affected by sea level rise; calls on the Commission and the Member States to pay special attention to the development of offshore renewable energy in these territories, focusing in particular on their transport needs and tourism industries; to make both sectors fully sustainable and fit for the Green Deal and the circular economy;
Amendment 49 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that the need for further offshore renewable energy development applies to all of Europe’s sea-basins and that areas with widely untapped offshore renewable potential, such as the Mediterranean Sea, require special attention, including through innovative technologies such as floating offshore wind, wave and tidal energy, while front runners, such as the North Sea, m; stresses that space allocation should be the result of a joint maritime spatial planning (MSP) and integrated coastal management (ICM) that goes beyond national borders; highlights in this regard the importance of the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) and the need to include the UK again; thust continue toalls on the Commission and Member States to extend research, development and to defend their leading global position for the benefit of Europe as a wholeinnovation efforts on floating windfarms and the related transport challenges during their construction and maintenance and to assess the feasibility of establishing an IPCEI for a large-scale project; calls on the Commission to ensure that EU is maintaining technological leadership, retain talent and provide affordable clean energy while taking into account potential impacts, including those related to climate change, on the marine environment;
Amendment 57 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. UStresses that in order to limit the devastating effects of global warming on marine aquatic ecosystems, rising water temperatures and ocean acidification, changes in water flow, and fish habitat loss, productivity of marine and freshwater species, combating climate change with the take up of offshore energy is vital; underlines that the drastically increasing needs for offshore renewable energy in the transport and tourism sectors can be met while fully complying with the goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, as, for example, the required scale-up of the offshore wind industry in order to meet the 2030 climate target is estimated to require less than 3 % of European maritime space. ; emphasises that if designed and built sensibly, offshore windfarms can benefit marine biodiversity; recalls, however, that a strong expansion of offshore wind energy production requires an intelligent approach to ensure its coexistence with the activities that already take place in the affected areas as well as to do least possible harm to environment; highlights in that regard that noise pollution from windfarm construction and operation, but especially from maritime transport has a negative impact on the marine ecosystem and should be addressed in environmental legislation;
Amendment 63 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls on the Commission to develop, in cooperation with the European Maritime Safety Agency, guidelines for the safety of sailing in offshore wind parks and construction vessels;
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
Amendment 70 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. SRecalls that in order to limit the devastating effects of global warming on marine aquatic ecosystems, rising water temperatures and ocean acidification, changes in water flow, and fish habitat loss, productivity of marine and fresh water species, combating climate change with the take up of offshore energy is vital; stresses that a net-zero emissions economy requires renewable energy to be deployed on an unprecedented scale; emphasises that if no further actions are taken to accelerate the deployment of offshore renewable energy (ORE), the EU will not be able to live up to its climate commitments;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Highlights that the energy production targets for ORE in all of EU’s sea basins, need for further offshore renewable energy development applies to all of Europe’s sea-basins; notes that there are areas with widely untapped offshore renewable potential, such as the Atlantic, Mediterranean, Baltic or Black Sea; reminds that the Commission has assessed that the installed capacity in 2030 for offshore wind should reach between 70 GW (CPRICE) to 79 GW (ALLBNK) if the EU wants to achieve a mere 55 % greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 20301b; stresses that the decision to find space for this additional ORE capacity by 2030 is of the utmost importance and should be considered apriority and identified in the EU before 2023/2024 to allow construction by 2030; reminds further that a 'realistic and achievable' installed capacity for ORE -as outlined inby the Commission cin its Communication COM(2020)0741-, areis at least 60 GW by 2030 and 340 GW by 2050; highlights that the competitiveness of offshore wind energy as an energy source will continue to increase and prices will continue to fall further in step with continuous development and deployment; _________________ 1bCommission Impact assessment on 'Stepping up Europe’s 2030 climate ambition' https://eur- lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:7 49e04bb-f8c5-11ea-991b- 01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_2&format= PDF
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes the competitive advantage of EU companies and technologies in the ORE sector; calls on the Commission to ensure that EU is maintaining technological leadership, retain talent and provide affordable, safe and sustainable energy while taking into account potential impacts, including those related to climate change, on the marine environment; underlines the potential for exponential for growth of the sector and its contribution to the EU economy, including technology and systems exports;
Amendment 99 #
3 a. Stresses that the transition towards a climate neutral economy should be accompanied by restoration of nature, while not compromising on the existing nature targets of the Biodiversity Strategy or leave anyone behind as promised in the European Green Deal, and needs to be a fair and inclusive energy transition;
Amendment 111 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Stresses the urgency of improving and expanding existing infrastructure, without prejudice to the EU nature legislation and adopted strategies, to enable the increased flow of electricity from offshore sites to inland-based consumers; considers that the Union and its Member States should develop geostrategic agreements on offshore energy infrastructure with neighbouring geographical regions, especially the Western Balkans, the Mediterranean Southern and Eastern Basins;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a revision of the TEN-E Regulation to make the legislation fit for 1.5°C and the attention it gives to the offshore renewables sector’s needs and priorities; stresses that the development of sustainable integrated and efficient transmisshybrid offshore wind assets for the generation, infrastructureterconnection and transmission of ORE requires forward-looking investment; believes strongly that regulatory frameworks should facilitate anticipatory investments;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Underlines the importance of jointly defining and agreeing to cooperate on the amount of offshore renewable generation to be deployed within each sea basin by Member States in 2030, 2040 and 2050, in terms of ensuring investment security and achievement of climate and energy goals;
Amendment 138 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes the advantages of combining offshore production facilities and transmission assets in the tender process; invites the Commission and the Member States (MSs) to explore the potential of thisa full-scope tendering approach and assess its applicability to different set-ups, including meshed grids;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Recalls that electricity production from ORE also creates an opportunity for renewable hydrogen production as outline in “EU Strategy to harness the potential of offshore renewable energy for a climate neutral future”, the "EU Strategy for Energy System Integration strategy" and “A hydrogen strategy for a climate- neutral Europe”;
Amendment 142 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Stresses that MS collaboration is vital in order to maximise effective use of offshore energy resources; highlights in this regard the importance of the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) and the need to include the UK again; notes that the current legal framework does not facilitate such collaboration sufficiently; strongly believes that failure to increase collaboration between MSs will inhibit the roll-out of offshore energy; urges the Commission and the MSs to take the necessary action without any further delays;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Stresses that Regional cooperation at a sea basin level, between Member States and neighbouring states, should be fostered through joint planning and acting on regulatory barriers, and also by creating regional marine spatial usage maps that are accessible to all stakeholders and regularly revised via a robust common monitoring framework;
Amendment 150 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Welcomes the Commission proposal for a Regulation on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure and repealing Regulation (EU) No 347/20131d regarding single points of contact (SPOCs), which should facilitate the coordination between Member States and the permitting process for offshore renewable energy projects of common interest; _________________ 1d 2020/0360(COD).
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Notes that electricity and direct heating and cooling from offshore renewables can contribute to the greening of district heating,any end-uses which can use electricity, like heat pumps, leading to a decreasinge and eventually an eliminating itson of GHG emissions; highlights the potential to incorporate ORE in district heating through clean electricity and heat pumps;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Strongly believes that the EU and the MSs should support research i, developmento and themarket deveplopyment of floating offshore wind and solar, tidal, and wave energy and offshore green hydrogen production and current stations, which can be adapted to the different seabed conditions in Europe; calls therefore on the Commission and Member States to extend research, development and innovation efforts on floating windfarms and the related transport challenges during their construction and maintenance and to assess the feasibility of establishing an Important Project of Common European interest for a large- scale project;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Believes that research should be supported on nature-inclusive design, so as to reduce the impact on the environment as much as possible from the design phase onwards;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Reminds that offshore renewable energy projects and their environmental impact assessments (EIA) must follow the mitigation hierarchy approach: avoid, minimize/reduce (restore and compensate in last resort only); recalls that when avoidance is impossible or very limited, reduction measures need to be adopted and effectively implemented during all phases, from site-selection, to exploitation and decommissioning. This includes for instance mandatory mitigation measures against under water noise in EIA to reduce disturbance of underwater fauna, seabird and bats survey plans in all stages of development;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10 c. Believes that throughout the full project cycle, it is crucial to design, develop and deploy renewable offshore energy in a circular and renewable way; especially stresses that the substantial amount of metals and minerals needed to support the growth of renewable technologies need to be responsibly and circularly sourced;
Amendment 206 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. NHighlights the need for a more sustainable management of maritime space and coasts to unlock the potential of offshore renewables; insists that a proper Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) process needs to be accompanied with a solid approach to public participation so that all stakeholders’ and coastal communities' views are taken into consideration; notes that the huge interest in ORE will attract an increasingly larger number of permit applications; calls on the MSs to urgently simplify the relevant procedures and coordinate their efforts; encourages the MSs to support the one-stop-shopembrace the single points of contact proposal;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Notes the current lengthy process for launching ORE projects and the urgent need to speed it up in order to reach the 2030 and 2050 goals; notes that streamlining MSs procedures and technical standards will facilitate more rapid deployment; calls on the MSs to consider introducing time limitset up a transparent process for issuing permits, including the automatic granting of permits after deadlines expirenecessary environmental assessments and studies as well as stakeholder consultations, and to introduce time limits for automatic authorisation when fully complete dossiers have been provided;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Acknowledges that meeting the 2030 and 2050 targets requires speeding up the deployment of offshore renewable energy; stresses however that this should not been done at the expense of either inclusive, transparent and effective stakeholder engagement in the permitting process, or the necessary impact assessments and required correcting measures;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Notes that the total space required to ensure the offshore wind capacity for the northern seas meets the 2050 goals is expected to be 2.8 %; underlines, therefore, the possibility of compatibility between sea space requirements for ORE and other interests; strongly believes that involving renewables developers early on in the process will contribute to the successful allocation of sea spacefull compliance with the Biodiversity Strategy; emphasises that if designed and built sensibly, offshore windfarms can benefit marine biodiversity; recalls, however, that a strong expansion of offshore wind energy production requires an intelligent approach to ensure its coexistence with the activities that already take place in the affected areas as well as to do least possible harm to environment; highlights in that regard that noise pollution from windfarm construction and operation, but especially from maritime transport has a negative impact on the marine ecosystem and should be addressed in environmental legislation; strongly believes that involving renewables developers early on in the process will contribute to the successful allocation of sea space; stresses that space allocation should be the result of a joint maritime spatial planning (MSP) and integrated coastal management (ICM) that goes beyond national borders; highlights that offshore wind electricity yields surpass those of onshore turbines while causing less acceptance problems with citizens;
Amendment 234 #
14. Notes that pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, MSs were required to submit their national energy and climate plans (NECPs) by 31 December 2019 and are required to submit a progress report every two years; notes that pursuant to Directive (EU) 2014/89, the MSs were required to draw up maritime spatial plans (MSPs) by 31 March 2021; deplores that not all MS have submitted their MSPs yet and urges the Commission to take action on this failure; notes the risk of incompatibility of the NECPs and MSPs as regards space allocation; stresses that urgent alignment of the MSP Directive and NECP Regulation as well as other relevant EU legislation is needed; urges the MSs to immediately coordinate and lay out plans for the 230 GW post-2030 offshore development;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14 a. Calls on all Member States to apply an ecosystem-based approach to Maritime Spatial Planning as referred to in Article 1(3) of Directive 2008/56/EC and Article5(1) of Directive 2014/89/EU with the aim of ensuring the collective pressure of all activities is kept within levels compatible with the achievement of good environmental status while contributing to the sustainable use of marine goods and services; welcomes, in this regard, the Strategy’s aim of providing a long-term framework that promotes sound coexistence between offshore installations and other uses of the sea space, contributes to the protection of the environment and allows for thriving fishing communities;
Amendment 243 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14 b. Believes that, as a principle, any human activities, including renewable energy must not be allowed in EU strictly protected areas designated as such under the EU Biodiversity Strategy;
Amendment 253 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Stresses that the uptake of ORE is dependent on the adequate implementation of well-designed market rules; highlights that without a rapid phase out of fossil fuels and fossil fuel subsidies and a massive increase in offshore wind energy production, realisation of renewable energy goals and limiting global warming to less than 1.5 °C by the end of the century would be impossible; reminds that islands are particularly affected by sea level rise;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for a revision of the existing regulatory framework governing EU electricity markets in order to facilitate the uptake of ORE and eliminate artificial trade barriers, fixed prices, subsidies and other market-distorting mechanisms that prevent the further successful integration of offshore renewables; calls on the Commission and the MSs to carefully analyse existing bidding zones and their suitabilitythe option of creating dedicated offshore bidding zones for the integration of the growing capacity for offshore renewables; invites the Commission to identify existing regulatory mechanisms that successfully promote the integration of offshore renewables in a well-functioning energy market, as part of a future-proof model including the facilitation of hybrid projects and new forms of collaboration;