🌬️ Ten countries to build world's largest offshore power grid in the North Sea

• The UK and nine other European countries have agreed to build a power grid in the North Sea with 100 gigawatts of offshore wind power, enough to supply 143 million homes.
• The countries will collectively build 5 gigawatts of new offshore wind capacity every year between 2031 and 2040.
• The agreement is expected to attract investments of 867 billion pounds and create 91,000 new jobs.

Historic agreement in Hamburg

Energy ministers from the UK, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway met in Hamburg to sign a declaration on cooperation in offshore wind power. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he wants the North Sea to become the world's largest reservoir of clean energy.

The agreement means the countries will build wind farms at sea that connect directly to multiple countries through high-voltage subsea cables. The planned capacity of 100 gigawatts corresponds to enough electricity to supply 143 million homes.

Five gigawatts of new capacity every year

Under the agreement, governments have promised to collectively build 5 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity every year between 2031 and 2040. This will be achieved through support for private investments. More than 100 companies have in turn signed an industry declaration promising to reduce costs and create 91,000 jobs.

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the country sees it as a national interest not only to invest in clean energy domestically, but also to work with European allies to deliver clean energy across the North Sea.

Investments approaching one trillion euros

The North Sea deal could help attract investments of one trillion euros, equivalent to 867 billion pounds, in offshore wind power by 2040. Malgosia Bartosik, interim CEO of industry association WindEurope, said this is the best possible response to those who doubt Europe's drive to deliver energy that is locally produced, secure and affordable.

Cross-border projects planned

The UK also plans to work with Germany, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands to open up cross-border offshore electricity projects. The focus is on joint planning and cost sharing.

Transmission grid owners from each country are expected to identify around 20 gigawatts of economically promising cross-border projects by 2027. These can then be implemented during the 2030s. The projects may include so-called hybrid projects, for example an offshore wind farm in UK waters that connects to both the UK and other countries to make electricity exports more efficient.

Previous commitments reinforced

The new agreement confirms Europe's commitment to wind power. Three years ago, North Sea countries promised to build 300 gigawatts of offshore wind in the area by 2050. The new power grid will contribute to this goal. Last year, wind and solar power exceeded fossil fuels in EU electricity production and generated 30 percent of the union's electricity.

Record-breaking UK contracts

Earlier in January, the UK government handed out record subsidy contracts for offshore wind projects that can supply 12 million UK homes. The most competitive auction to date awarded support contracts to eight offshore wind farms worth 22 billion pounds. The government estimates this will support 7,000 skilled jobs and reduce energy bills long-term.

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