North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC)

The North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) is the framework for regional energy cooperation between Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Ireland, Denmark and Norway, with the support from the European Commission, to deliver upon their combined offshore renewables ambition. It promotes cost-effective offshore renewable energy development in the broader North Sea region (North Sea, Kattegat, Skaggerak, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, the English Channel), through a joint vision and the promotion of cooperation projects. For specific topics, it forms the basis for offshore energy cooperation with the United Kingdom. The Benelux General Secretariat is the basic platform for support to NSEC, by hosting meetings of all groups at all levels at the Benelux House in Brussels.

The competent ministers and the European Energy Commissioner established this voluntary partnership midway through 2016 with a Political Declaration which was renewed with a new Political Declaration in 2021. The current three-year work programme lasts until 2027. The co-presidency of  NSEC lies with the European Commission on the one hand (on a permanent basis) and one of the member countries on the other (on a rotating annual basis). Ministers meet regularly to monitor progress and set priorities. Support Groups oversee the technical work. Today, the focus is on :

1) enabling international offshore wind projects, such as energy islands, hybrid interconnections, cross-border grid infrastructure and offshore renewable hydrogen,
2) looking for ways to limit the spatial and environmental impact of offshore wind developments,
3) reducing costs by efficient tender design and financing, and increasing the visibility of the projects pipeline,
4) improving long term planning and
5) assessing and removing barriers for offshore hydrogen development.

The Benelux General Secretariat in Brussels continues to serve as the basic platform for support to the North Seas cooperation, i.e. all co-chairs, by making its premises available for meetings of all groups at all levels.

Most recent deliverables and reports of NSEC on the dedicated NSEC webpage

The North Seas Countries’ Offshore Grid Initiative (NSCOGI) was a regional cooperation structure between Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and the UK, which promoted the coordinated development of the offshore electricity grid in the North Sea region. Under the impetus of the ministers, with the support of the Benelux secretariat, and drawing on the expertise of representatives from ministries, grid operators, regulators and the European Commission, it developed proposals for more efficient and cost-effective development of offshore renewable energy infrastructure. In 2016, this cooperation merged with the North Sea Energy Cooperation.

RESULTS ?

• NSCOGI POLICY REPORTS

NSCOGI 2013/14 progress report

NSCOGI 2012 report

NSCOGI 2011 report

• NSCOGI WORKING GROUPS REPORTS

Market arrangements (31 July 2014)

Cost allocation (31 July 2014)

North Seas Grid Study (16 November 2012)

Market arrangements under the virtual case study ( 8 November 2012)

Offshore Technology Report (16 October 2012)

Regulatory benchmark ( 13 January 2012)

Recommendations for guiding principles for the development of integrated offshore cross-border infrastructure (23 November 2012)

Procedural guidelines as a recommendation to national competent authorities (21 November 2012)

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