North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) Workshop on International Responsible Business Conduct and Circularity

When: Tuesday 25 April, 14:00-16:00

Where: Meeting Room 18, Level 1

Open to: Invitation only

This is an invitation-only workshop between NSEC Government representatives, the wind industry, and general stakeholders.

The aim of the workshop is to raise awareness of the International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC) agreement. This agreement was signed in the Netherlands on 6 March 2023. It brings together wind and solar energy companies, civil society organisations, labour unions, industry associations, knowledge institutions and the Dutch government and aims to improve the human rights and environmental conditions in renewable energy value chains. All companies and stakeholders active in the Dutch solar and wind industry are invited to join the initiative.

At the workshop representatives of the NSEC countries will also discuss how criteria related to responsible business conduct can be applied to offshore wind auctions. This in view of the recently tabled Net-Zero Industry Act that contains proposals to make non-price criteria (up to 30%) standard practice for all EU renewable energy auctions. The offshore wind tenders of IJmuiden Ver I-IV in the Netherlands will be the first to include dedicated criteria related to the IRBC agreement.

Under the Netherlands’ presidency in 2023, Support Group 3 of NSEC intends to develop a paper on non-price criteria, which will include among others also responsible business conduct and circularity. The workshop will gather the first input from stakeholders on this paper.