EDA organised the inaugural coordination meeting of the Advisory Board for the Symbiosis - Offshore Renewable Energy for Defence project on 20 and 21 March 2024 at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre in Spain. Hosted in conjunction with WindEurope, this marked the beginning of efforts to foster symbiotic coexistence between defence activities and offshore renewable energy developments across EU maritime spaces.
Focus on defence resilience through sustainable offshore energy
In an era where renewable energy is at the forefront of the Union's agenda, EDA's Symbiosis project aims to contribute to the EU's energy resilience and sustainability efforts. Aligning with the Annual Conference of WindEurope, the meeting offered Advisory Board members an opportunity to delve into the latest developments in the wind energy sector.
Over two days, the Advisory Board conducted discussions on the project's scope, goals, anticipated events, deliverables, and timelines. Assembled to leverage expertise, the Board consists of a multidisciplinary team of specialists. This team, drawn from EU institutions and agencies, renewable energy associations, private sector entities specialising in wind energy development and research, military institutions, and energy and marine engineering, brings together a knowledge vital for navigating the complexities of integrating sustainable offshore energy with defence activities. A significant highlight was the discussion on the progress of the project's tender, “Fostering Co-Existence between Offshore Renewable Installations and Defence Activities,” valued at €800,000. This session provided invaluable insights into the project's direction and facilitated an open dialogue on the relevance and impact of its outcomes.
In conjunction with the WindEurope Annual conference, the Board members also had the opportunity to explore the on- and offshore wind energy event, which attracted over 12,000 attendees. This conference served as an exceptional platform for members to witness the innovative solutions and discussions shaping the future of wind energy, featuring hundreds of speakers and more than 500 exhibitors. Additionally, EDA engaged with experts in the Wind Energy and Defence Roundtable Forum and in panel discussions on ensuring the Security of Critical Energy Infrastructure.
Upcoming event
The Advisory Board meeting laid the groundwork for organising five regional workshops designed to cover the entirety of the EU’s maritime space - the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the Black Sea. Special attention was dedicated to the planning of the first regional workshop in Bucharest, scheduled on 30 and 31 May 2024, focusing on the Black Sea region. These workshops aim to further the project's objectives by fostering collaboration among stakeholders, contributing to the project’s success and the EU’s goals of energy sustainability and security.
Background
On 1 October 2022, EDA launched the Symbiosis – Offshore Renewable Energy for Defence project, which will run for 30 months. Following a call, EDA established the Symbiosis Advisory Board on 31 January 2024 to support the Symbiosis project management team in implementing the project. While the Board does not have executive or decision-making authority, it is expected to substantially support the project through consultation, guiding it towards its objectives. The Symbiosis project builds on the work carried out as part of the Consultation Forum for Sustainable Energy in the Defence and Security Sector (CF SEDSS) - a European Commission-funded initiative managed by EDA since 2015.