Abstract

The European Union and China share a visionary commitment to attaining carbon neutrality by the midpoint of this century. This formidable undertaking will lead to a profound transformation in the energy landscape, exerting a far-reaching impact on various facets of modern life, including transportation, habitation, and more. To achieve these ambitious targets, the European Union has meticulously devised an array of action plans, each tailored to its member countries, with a particular emphasis on diminishing energy dependence, fostering investments in green hydrogen, and bolstering the renewable energy generation sector. Notably, offshore wind energy has emerged as a pivotal cornerstone of European initiatives. However, the rapid strides being made by China in this sector warrant comprehensive examination. In this discourse, we delve into the developments within the offshore wind industry, scrutinizing the progress in Europe and contrasting it with China, offering insights into the future of this critical renewable energy source.

Bio

João Graça Gomes is a Senior R&D Engineer at the Sino-Portuguese Centre for New Energy Technologies (SCNET), a joint venture between the China Three Gorges Corporation and EDP. His work is focused on joint research projects between Portugal and China, mainly related to energy storage, electricity planning and offshore wind. Before joining SCNET, João worked in the Portuguese Renewable Energy Association (APREN) as a Renewable Energy Policy Analyst and served as a teaching assistant in the University of Lisbon and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). He holds a BSc and an MSc in Energy and Environmental Engineering from the University of Lisbon and an MPhil in Power Engineering from the SJTU. He has published numerous scientific articles and collaborated on reports of organizations such as the World Bank, Bioenergy Europe, REN21, the World Energy Council and others. Due to his research and contribution to the energy sector, he received several awards from the Portuguese Engineers Society, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, several exclusive scholarships such as the China Three Gorges Scholarship and the Outstanding International Student Scholarship of the Chinese Ministry of Education, and was the Ambassador of the European Climate Pact for China between 2020 and 2022.

João is also a board member of the exclusive Future Energy Leaders 100 program from the World Energy Council, a Board Member of Future Energy Leaders Portugal and the Coordinator for Asia and Oceania of the Portuguese Diaspora Council, an association sponsored by the Portuguese Government, dedicated to uplift of the country’s image and reputation in the world.