Belgium, Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands join forces on offshore wind

Denmark – In the Port of Esbjerg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Prime Ministers of Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands sign a declaration on a shared vision for offshore wind and related infrastructure in the North Sea.

This coincides with the unveiling of the EU’s REPowerEU Action Plan, which will emphasize wind energy’s central role. REPowerEU wants wind energy to grow from 190 GW to 480 GW in 2030 to strengthen Europe’s energy security. This necessitates permitting simplification and coordinated action to strengthen Europe’s wind energy supply chain. Massive investments in offshore grid infrastructure, port facilities, and vessels are also required.

Offshore wind capacity

To achieve climate neutrality by 2050, offshore wind capacity in the EU must increase from 15 GW today to 300 GW by 2050. The EU wants onshore wind to grow from 173 GW to 1000 GW over the same time period. The European wind industry will continue to work with local communities and other stakeholders to ensure that the expansion of offshore and onshore wind goes hand in hand with biodiversity protection and dialogue.