Mr. John Fitzgerald:

We need to look at whether we want to have the lowest cost. There has not been a significant focus on how much it will cost. If I wanted to develop renewable energy, I would go to where the renewable resource is at its best. If it was too difficult to transport it, I would change my approach. I think Europe needs to take a joined-up approach. Electricity is the vector to decarbonise transport and industry. That means we will have much more production of renewable energy in Europe. We need to think about how we can do that in a sustainable and secure manner. More grids are needed. A supergrid will probably be needed beyond 2040.

We need to start thinking about what we want to do and what role we want to play. Europe has said that it is feasible to deploy up to 450 GW of offshore wind power. We have a massive resource. We could do 5 GW or 100 GW. We have to think about what we want to do and what needs to happen. I recommend that we look at some kind of feasibility report that would objectively advise this committee on what the options are. We can take it on from there. There is time. It is all about preparing and planning. If we wait, we will become a technology taker and we will get precious little out of this opportunity.