Nine European nations, plus the UK, will jointly develop 100GW of offshore wind capacity in the North Sea by 2050, aiming to bolster energy security amid rising sabotage threats.

Energy ministers from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the UK, and others—including Iceland as observer—will sign the declaration at the North Sea Summit in Hamburg today. The pact commits to 20GW of joint projects kicking off in the 2030s, part of a broader 300GW target for the region.

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband described the move as standing up for the country’s “national interest” by driving clean energy to escape the “fossil fuel rollercoaster” and achieve “energy sovereignty and abundance.”

The agreement emphasises shared infrastructure, such as multinational wind farms, and enhanced physical and digital protection for critical assets, with NATO and the European Commission participating. Transmission system operators will lead early builds.

Germany’s Economy Minister Katherina Reiche hailed the collaboration for strengthening Europe’s clean energy industrial base and strategic sovereignty.

​This builds on 2023 pledges made after Russia invaded Ukraine, positioning the North Sea as Europe’s renewable powerhouse. China currently leads the world with 43GW of offshore wind capacity, accounting for 52% of the world’s total.

​The initiative counters recent policy headwinds in some nations while accelerating the shift to clean power through cross-border grids and hybrid projects.