Energy ministers from nine southern European Union member countries have come together to focus on harnessing offshore wind and solar energy in an effort to transform the Mediterranean region into a renewable energy hub and mitigate the risks of climate change.
The officials are working on establishing joint renewable energy projects across borders to attract investors and streamline the process without bureaucratic hurdles. They have called on the European Commission to conduct a study on the region's renewable energy potential to facilitate informed decision-making and concrete action on green energy initiatives.
Hosted in Larnaca, the MED9 Energy Ministerial Meeting saw discussions on utilizing offshore platforms for green energy generation due to the limited land availability in Mediterranean countries. Some nations have already initiated offshore wind energy pilot projects in shallow waters, with plans to explore wave-generated energy and floating photovoltaic units to leverage abundant sunlight in the region.
The Mediterranean countries aim to lead the energy transition as they are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. One of the key challenges identified is integrating offshore energy facilities into existing onshore power grids and interconnections for efficient transmission.
Greece highlighted the Aegean region's significant wind power potential and emphasized the importance of cooperation and sharing best practices among nations. Greece has set ambitious targets to increase wind power capacity in its energy mix, aiming for 2 gigawatts by 2030, 10 GW by 2040, and 17 GW by 2050.
Italy emphasized that affordable green energy can also serve as a tool for promoting peace in the region. The collaborative efforts of the Mediterranean countries signify a collective commitment to advancing renewable energy technologies and combating climate change.
