North Seas Energy Cooperation | |
---|---|
Administrative center | Brussels, Belgium |
Members | Belgium Denmark France Germany Ireland Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Sweden European Commission |
Establishment | |
• NSCOGI proposed | 2008 |
• NSEC Established | 2016 |
The North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC), officially the Political Declaration on energy cooperation between the North Seas Countries,[1] is a collaboration between EU member-states and Norway to create an integrated offshore energy grid which links wind farms and other renewable energy sources across the northern seas of Europe. First proposed as the North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative (NSCOGI), it is one of several European super grid schemes.
Electricity would be transmitted via high-voltage direct current cables, allowing it to be sold and exchanged in all involved countries. It would also make it easier to optimise energy production,[2] and make the system overall less susceptible to the climate; Norway's hydroelectric power plants could act as a "giant battery", storing the power produced and releasing it at peak times, or when wind strength is low. Several high-voltage direct current interconnectors such as the North Sea Link between Norway and Britain (operational since 2021) have been seen as integral parts of the project.[3]