The growth in wind energy in the EU has been dramatic in the last decades and promises to continue in the future due to its comparatively low costs, abundant resource and proven technology basis. According to National Renewable Energy Action Plans installed wind capacities in the EU member states are expected to increase by 70 GW over the coming decade to a total of approximately 213 GW; with more than a third of this coming from offshore wind technology.

This growth trend is mirrored in a number of other developed and emerging economies around the world who, like the EU, face a common set of challenges in providing the necessary enabling conditions for this deployment. Such conditions require that obstacles covering many different aspects are addressed, including: the provision of cost efficient policy support, development of appropriate legislative/regulatory frameworks, integration into electricity markets, supply chain improvements, environmental impacts and public acceptance amongst others.

ECN has extensive experience and expertise in the field of wind energy spread across the Policy Studies Unit and its technical Wind Unit . This has, to date, been focussed on offshore wind energy and includes work in relation to support policy analysis, cross-border mechanisms, scenario modelling, maritime spatial planning (MSP), grid & market integration and rates of learning.