Ten countries present a plan to boost offshore wind energy in the North Sea

Several media on the European continent as well as the UK – notably the Guardian^[1] – report about the results of the third North Sea Summit^[2] held on 26 January in Hamburg. At the summit, representatives from nine European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK), the industry and transmission system operators (TSOs) adopted an ‘investment pact‘^[3] to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind power and grids in the region. Joined for the first time by Iceland and NATO, the nine countries agreed to collectively aim to install 15 GW of offshore wind capacity per year in the North Sea, between 2031 and 2040. They also reaffirmed their joint commitment to reaching 300 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050 – according to a non-binding declaration^[4] and related action plan^[5]. 

The new ‘investment pact’ and renewed 300 GW commitment for 2050 build on past political declarations and commitments by these countries – in particular the 2022 Esbjerg Declaration^[6] and 2023 Ostende Declaration^[7]. The nine countries say that “where necessary and appropriate“, they “will explore support for projects through, e.g. domestic and cross-border two-sided CfDs (Contracts for Difference) or equivalent price security mechanisms, including strengthening the European PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) market“. The ministerial declaration further touches on the resilience and security of offshore energy infrastructure, and on cybersecurity.

The Hamburg Summit demonstrates that European countries bordering the North Sea see joint deployment of offshore wind energy as a key contribution to safe, sustainable and affordable energy. A major challenge is implementation of the ambitious targets, and this is also related to the fact that the new capacities have to be connected to the grid. In the EU, the European Commission has recognised this and has recently tabled a legislative package on grids.^[8]

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/26/uk-among-10-countries-to-build-100gw-wind-power-grid-in-north-sea?utm_source=chatgpt.com

[2] https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/search/north-sea-summit-2026-2401316

[3] https://www.bundeswirtschaftsministerium.de/Redaktion/EN/Downloads/M-O/nordsee-gipfel-2026/joint-offshore-wind-investment-pact-for-the-north-seas.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=6&_cldee=X21AslDP7elditHIFmRqyVJxe21S_O_dJV2ZwNfjJLCDWvc88j4Lpv-3FN6VYsDT&recipientid=contact-4132e4e228e4e911a96a000d3a442d3c-20766895ecb54a27affd2fd205d4eb8c&esid=f72aa425-78f8-f011-8406-7c1e5283430f

[4] https://www.bundeswirtschaftsministerium.de/Redaktion/EN/Downloads/M-O/nordsee-gipfel-2026/hamburg-declaration-of-energy-ministers.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=7

[5] https://www.bundeswirtschaftsministerium.de/Redaktion/EN/Downloads/M-O/nordsee-gipfel-2026/action-plan-to-the-hamburg-declaration-of-energy-ministers.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=9

[6] https://www.en.kefm.dk/Media/637884571703277400/The%20Esbjerg%20Declaration%20(002).pdf

[7] https://www.government.nl/documents/diplomatic-statements/2023/04/24/ostend-declaration-on-the-north-sea-as-europes-green-power-plant

[8] European Commission press release, 10 December 2025: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_2945