The energy ministers of nine European countries signed an agreement committing to jointly install at least 120 GW of capacity of offshore wind by 2030, and at least 300 GW by 2050. The Ostend declaration is hailed as a milestone on the path to a greener and more energy-independent Europe.
The declaration was signed on the occasion of the North Sea Summit, which brought together representatives from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom. It builds on the inaugural summit held last year in Esbjerg, Denmark. That event resulted in the historic Esbjerg Declaration, which laid the groundwork for transforming the North Seas into a green power plant for Europe.
In the open letter published before the summit, the heads of government of the participating countries highlighted the massive undertaking required to achieve their goals, necessitating huge investments in both offshore and onshore infrastructure. They also stressed the need to balance the rapid deployment of offshore wind with the safeguarding of marine ecosystems.
The agreement aims to develop cooperation projects that create an entire electricity system in the North Seas based on renewable energy. This will involve coordinating their efforts to deploy offshore wind and develop an offshore electricity grid, moving Europe closer to a green economy powered by offshore green power plants.
As the green transition is a cornerstone for maintaining global competitiveness, the leaders emphasised the importance of promoting European value chains in green tech and diversifying sources of critical raw materials for wind turbines and batteries. They also committed to working together within NATO and the European Union to enhance the security of offshore and underwater infrastructure and respond effectively to growing traditional and hybrid threats.
The North Sea Summit represents a critical step towards a greener and more competitive Europe, with each additional wind turbine bringing the continent closer to a sustainable future.
Green Alliance
In other important Norway-EU news, a Green Alliance between Norway and the EU was signed yesterday in Brussels. The Alliance will create an overall framework for political discussions and concrete plans for increased cooperation, in areas such as battery production, critical raw materials and energy. Upon announcing the adoption of the agreement, representatives for Norway and the EU emphasised that both regions have a mutual interest in cooperating, in order to deliver on our climate goals and the green transition.
