UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has signed a historic clean energy security pact, known as the Hamburg Declaration.
The Hamburg Declaration was signed with European allies to bolster energy security for families and businesses across the UK and Europe amid 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.
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.”
A commitment to clean, secure energy
The UK and Europe stand together amid global headwinds to reaffirm their commitment to clean, secure energy as the only route to escape the fossil fuel rollercoaster.
The deal comes after the UK held a record-breaking offshore wind auction, which unlocked 7,000 jobs and drove £22bn of private-sector investment into the UK’s factories and ports.
“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,” Miliband commented.
Unlocking offshore wind in the North Sea
Three years ago, North Sea countries pledged to build 300 GW of offshore wind in the North Sea by 2050, in response to Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the weaponisation of Europe’s energy supplies.
The deal means, for the first time, North Sea countries have agreed to deliver 100 GW of this offshore wind power through joint clean energy projects. These will include new ‘offshore wind hybrid assets’ – wind farms at sea directly connected to more than one country via interconnectors.
The Energy Secretary met European leaders at the Future of the North Seas Summit 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, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark and Norway.
Interconnectors are crucial for future energy security
The 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.
Ben Wilson, President of National Grid Ventures, explained: “Today is a step towards a more integrated energy system in the North Seas. Collaboration is key to delivering on more secure, affordable energy for British and European consumers.”
Outcomes of the North Seas Summit
Further key outcomes expected from the summit include:
- Interconnected offshore grid – the Energy Secretary signing a statement of intent with Germany, Belgium, Denmark, and 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 is 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 the forefront of grid technology, unlocking export opportunities and boosting growth.
William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, concluded: “It is essential for the UK’s energy security and economic growth that we co-operate more closely with our European allies to realise the full potential of the North Sea.
“The commitments set out in the Hamburg Declaration will deliver on that, allowing our businesses to work on joint projects on renewables, interconnectors and other vital energy infrastructure.”
