The UK has signed the Hamburg Declaration with European allies to bolster energy security for families and businesses across the UK and Europe, in an era of global instability.
The deal will drive forward an unprecedented fleet of joint offshore wind projects between European countries, including Germany, Norway, France and Denmark, taking advantage of Europe’s shared abundant energy in the North Sea.
The UK and Europe aim to stand together amid global headwinds, to reaffirm their commitment to clean, secure energy as the only route to escape the fossil fuel rollercoaster.
Three years ago, North Sea countries pledged to build 300GW of offshore wind in the North Sea by 2050, in response to Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and weaponisation of Europe’s energy supplies.
The deal agreed on 26 January means, for the first time, North Sea countries have agreed to deliver 100GW of this offshore wind power through joint clean energy projects. These will include new ‘offshore wind hybrid assets’ – wind farms at sea that are directly connected to more than one country through interconnectors.
This joint commitment is set out in the ‘Hamburg Declaration’, agreed at the Future of the North Seas Summit.
The Energy Secretary met European leaders to push forward plans to transform the North Sea into the world’s largest ‘clean energy reservoir’.
The major summit brings together European leaders in Germany, France, Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark and Norway.
Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, said: “We are standing up for our national interest by driving for clean energy, which can get the UK off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and give us energy sovereignty and abundance.
“After our record renewables auction, we today went further by signing a clean energy security pact with European allies to ensure we maximise the clean energy potential for the North Sea.”
Industry is expected to respond to the pledge by unveiling ambitious plans for new projects.
Interconnectors are crucial to Europe’s energy security, enabling countries in the North Sea to send clean power to where it’s needed most and end Europe’s reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets controlled by petrostates and dictators.
Earlier this month, the UK secured a record-breaking 8.4GW of offshore wind at the biggest ever auction in European history. This includes projects in the North Sea, setting a powerful example to European partners.
Further key outcomes expected from the summit include:
• Interconnected offshore grid – the Energy Secretary signing a statement of intent with Germany, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands to unlock cross-border offshore electricity projects, focusing on joint planning, cost-sharing and market arrangements to speed up delivery
• Offshore Hybrid Assets – The UK agreeing a framework to deepen German and UK collaboration on offshore hybrid assets. These are advanced subsea energy infrastructure that combine offshore wind farm connections with electricity interconnectors. This would put UK firms at forefront of grid technology, unlocking export opportunities and boosting growth
Dhara Vyas, Chief Executive of Energy UK, said: “The UK’s energy sector is fully behind the landmark efforts to be announced at the Hamburg North Sea Summit to transform the North Sea into a truly regional clean power hub.
“Delivering the goal of 100GW of offshore cooperation projects by 2050 will require a relentless focus on maintaining the momentum of UK-EU alignment on electricity market coupling and ETS linkage.
“This deeper cooperation on supply chains, standardisation, and shared infrastructure is not just a strategic necessity, it is the most effective way to bring down energy costs for households and businesses while fuelling sustainable economic growth and high-value jobs for years to come.”