Hamburg Declaration Sets Out New Era of European Offshore Wind Cooperation
The UK and a group of European countries have signed a new clean energy security pact aimed at accelerating the development of joint offshore wind projects in the North Sea, as governments seek to strengthen energy security and reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband signed the agreement – known as the Hamburg Declaration – with European counterparts at the Future of the North Seas Summit in Hamburg. The pact commits participating countries to work towards 100 gigawatts (GW) of jointly delivered offshore wind projects, marking the first time North Sea nations have agreed a specific shared target for cross-border developments.
The partnership includes countries such as Germany, Norway, France, Denmark and Belgium, alongside the UK, and builds on a wider ambition set in 2022 for North Sea nations to reach 300 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050. That earlier pledge emerged in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the disruption to Europe’s gas supplies, which exposed vulnerabilities in the continent’s energy system.
Under the new agreement, countries will pursue so-called offshore wind hybrid assets – wind farms that are directly connected to more than one country through interconnectors. These projects are designed to allow electricity generated at sea to be shared across borders, helping move power to where it is most needed and improving the efficiency of the overall system.
UK officials said the deal reflects a shared view that expanding domestic and regional clean power is central to long-term energy security. The government argues that closer cooperation with European partners will help turn the North Sea into a major hub for renewable electricity, supporting homes, businesses and industry across the continent.
The signing comes shortly after the UK ran a record offshore wind auction, securing 8.4 GW of new capacity, described by ministers as the largest such auction in European history. The government says the auction is expected to support thousands of jobs and attract tens of billions of pounds in private investment into manufacturing facilities, ports and supply chains.
Miliband said the agreement would help the UK “get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster” by boosting clean energy production and working with allies to maximise the North Sea’s renewable potential. He added that interconnectors and shared infrastructure would play a crucial role in ensuring clean power can flow between countries.
Industry is expected to outline new project proposals in response to the pact, as developers explore opportunities for cross-border wind farms and grid connections. The Hamburg Declaration positions offshore wind cooperation as a central pillar of Europe’s energy strategy, as governments seek to balance climate goals with the need for secure, affordable and domestically sourced power.