Clean energy is Europe’s only route to security and prosperity
This was the headline from a joint opinion piece by EU Commissioner Dan Jørgensen and UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband published in Politico earlier this week, on the day of the North Sea Summit in Hamburg.
In an era of geopolitical uncertainty, volatile energy markets and rising demand, Europe’s energy choices are inextricably linked to questions of security and prosperity.
Continued reliance on fossil fuels leaves European societies exposed, while clean energy harnessed from domestic natural resources offers a path to greater stability, independence and economic strength.
That message set the tone for the North Sea Summit in Hamburg, where European leaders, industry representatives and TSOs made several strong statements of intent.
A central outcome of the Summit was the signing of a joint offshore wind Investment Pact to coordinate offshore wind expansion across the North Seas. Aiming for 15 GW of new capacity annually from 2031 to 2040, the pact boosts investor confidence, cuts risk, and cements the North Sea’s role as Europe’s green power hub.
The commitment was further reinforced by a historic agreement between Denmark and Germany to jointly finance the world’s first energy island: Bornholm Energy Island. At the heart of this vision lies a hub-and-spoke approach, whereby offshore wind farms are connected to shared energy hubs at sea. These hubs are in turn linked to multiple countries via subsea cables, enabling power to flow efficiently to where it is needed most and maximising the value of renewable generation.
Identified in the EU Grid Package as one of eight strategic Energy Highways, Bornholm Energy Island will connect 3 GW of offshore wind directly to both Denmark and Germany, allowing renewable power to flow more flexibly between markets, strengthening energy security while reducing costs for consumers and industry alike.
The agreement builds on several years of collaboration in the North Sea region, starting with the Esbjerg Declaration of 2020, when Denmark, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands pledged to develop the North Sea as a green power hub and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. From declaration to delivery, the vision of a more robust, interconnected and energy-independent Europe is now taking concrete shape.
At a time under pressure, the Summit sent a clear signal:
Europe unites in accelerating the build-out of offshore wind as critical infrastructure, strengthening resilience, supporting competitiveness and helping build societies that are less dependent on scarce and imported resources.
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