In this ‘Connecting Seas’ workshop on Energy, we will showcase some of the world’s front runners in Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), highlight the successes in renewable energy developments and promote energy planning provisions. Connecting Seas is an appropriate title for this workshop due to the transnational nature of energy and its cross-border connections via electricity interconnectors. As part of this workshop, we give a comparative analysis of energy and it’s associated planning provisions between the North Sea and Baltic Sea. You will hear about some of the exiciting innovations in energy and predicted trends that are expected to arise within the sea basins in the near and distant future and you will have the chance to take part in interactive and engaging activities and discussions.

You will also have the opportunity to map out possible areas for offshore energy developments, interconnectors and landfall points and have your say on what you think marine planners in the North Sea and Baltic Sea should be focusing on in terms of current and future energy planning. By combining both sea basins in this session, there are lessons to be learned and recommendations to be made that can transfers across borders. Please come and share your valuable MSP and energy knowledge and experience and help us to connect seas.