9 European Nations Unite for $1 Trillion Wind Power Plan

Nine Northern European governments just made the biggest clean energy commitment in history, promising to work together to build 100 gigawatts of offshore wind power across their shared seas.

Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg signed the Hamburg Declaration at the third North Sea Summit in January 2026. The agreement represents more than $1 trillion in investment and a unified vision for what they're calling "energy sovereignty."

The countries already have about 37 gigawatts of offshore wind installed across 13 nations. The UK leads the pack and just completed a record allocation round last week, while other pioneering countries like Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands have struggled with recent project launches.

Three years ago, these nations set a goal of 300 gigawatts by 2050. Today's declaration shows they're serious about getting there by outlining specific solutions to recent market challenges.

The agreement tackles the problems head-on. It calls for predictable schedules that developers can count on, steps to reduce investment risks, faster permitting processes, and a sound financial framework that makes projects viable.

One of the most exciting innovations is the plan to interconnect offshore grids across borders. Countries will share power generation capacity, and some projects will combine offshore wind connections with electricity interconnects in hybrid systems.

Denmark and Germany announced they're moving forward with the Bornholm Energy Island, an energy hub located about 10 miles offshore. It's one of the first concepts designed to collect and distribute power from multiple wind farms across national boundaries.

The Ripple Effect

More than 100 companies endorsed the declaration and committed to doing their part. They're pledging to slash offshore wind costs by 30 percent by 2040 through scaling up operations, lowering financing costs, and industrial innovation.

European energy ministers believe they can build a steady pipeline installing 15 gigawatts per year across the North Sea and Baltic. That's enough clean electricity to power millions of homes while creating jobs and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Jane Cooper, Deputy Chief Executive of RenewableUK, called it historic. "This ambitious announcement will increase the energy security of the UK and the whole of the North Sea region," she said. "This declaration puts offshore wind right at the heart of Europe's power system."

The agreement comes at a time when international cooperation on climate solutions matters more than ever. By choosing to work together rather than compete, these nations are proving that ambitious climate goals become achievable when countries share resources, knowledge, and infrastructure.

Nine countries just showed the world what's possible when nations choose collaboration over competition in the race toward clean energy.