Baltic Sea TSOs, developers, industry associations, and public authorities met in Berlin on October 23 for the first Energy Island Forum Roundtable. Using Bornholm Energy Island as a case study, discussions focused on how we can succeed with a regional build-out of offshore wind and the energy system in the Baltic Sea – and on the role offshore energy hubs will play in this development.
Stefan Kapferer, CEO of 50Hertz, opened the roundtable by emphasising that even though offshore wind and the idea of offshore energy hubs are currently facing challenges, our energy system needs wind and interconnectors to balance solar, to secure Europe’s energy independence, and to ensure affordable energy for Europe. He pointed out that, in some respects, the Baltic Sea is actually ahead of the North Sea — with Bornholm Energy Island serving as a testbed not only for technological innovation, but also for forward-thinking and pioneering political and regulatory approaches.
During the discussions, it became clear that the task ahead is substantial. As we move from a national to a regional and hybrid approach to offshore development, project complexity increases significantly — and all participants expressed the need for predictability and certainty within their respective roles: for developers in terms of project pipeline and price stability; for TSOs regarding infrastructure planning; and for governments concerning the cost of instruments such as Contracts for Difference (CfDs).
Bornholm stands as a first example of how such complexity can be managed — but is this project-by-project approach the way forward to 2050? Or should we aim to develop a regional economic and regulatory framework capable of addressing this complexity collectively? And if so, how should it be designed and governed? There were many open questions — but also great energy and a shared belief that we must work together to tackle the challenges of the green transition, Europe’s energy independence, and affordable energy for industry and citizens alike.
As one participant put it perfectly: We only advance through cooperation.
We now look forward to continuing this dialogue and sharing knowledge at the upcoming Roundtable on the North Sea — and not least at the Energy Island Summit on 1–2 December.
A heartfelt thank you to Stefan Kapferer and Henrich Quick from 50Hertz for hosting this first roundtable in the series. And a big thank you to Julian Hentschel from THEMA Consulting for his insightful presentation, which sparked valuable discussion on political acceptance, cost-sharing, investment certainty, and the critical need for cross-border collaboration.
