Ten European countries have agreed to develop offshore wind farms connected through high-voltage subsea cables, committing to deliver 100 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity, according to Reuters, cited by Mediafax.
The pledge will be formalized in the “Hamburg Declaration”, to be signed on Monday by energy ministers from the UK, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Norway. The projects aim to directly connect multiple countries through an integrated offshore grid.
Read also: Eurowind Energy plans a €65 million hybrid wind–solar park in Romania
“We are defending the national interest by promoting clean energy, which can free Britain from dependence on fossil fuels and deliver energy sovereignty and abundance,” said UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, quoted by Reuters.
Political backdrop and long-term goals
According to The Guardian, the announcement comes less than a week after Donald Trump criticized the UK’s plans to phase down North Sea oil and gas production and voiced skepticism about European wind power at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The agreement reinforces Europe’s commitment to offshore wind. Three years ago, North Sea countries pledged to deliver 300 GW of offshore wind by 2050. The new 100 GW commitment is expected to play a key role in reaching that target and strengthening cross-border energy networks.
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