In January, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, announced that he aims for the North Sea to become the \u201clargest reservoir of clean energy worldwide\u201d, stating plans to accelerate and connect Europe\u2019s offshore wind energy projects. The U.K. and nine other European states \u2013 Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Norway \u2013 signed an agreement<\/a> to speed up the deployment of offshore windfarms in the 2030s, as well as develop a power grid in the North Sea, thereby transforming the ageing oil reserve into a \u201cclean energy reservoir\u201d.<\/p>\n The partners will construct windfarms at sea that connect directly to several European countries through high-voltage subsea cables. The group hopes to supply 100 GW of offshore wind power through the reservoir, or enough to provide clean energy for around 143 million households. This will be achieved as the countries collectively develop 5 GW of offshore wind capacity a year between 2031 and 2040 by supporting private sector investments.<\/p>\n The project has attracted interest from 100 companies, which have signed an industry declaration that promises to reduce costs and create 91,000 jobs. The deal is expected to help attract $1.19 trillion in offshore wind investment by 2040.<\/p>\n The U.K. Energy Minister, Ed Miliband, said<\/a> the government was \u201cstanding up for our national interest\u201d by encouraging green energy development and getting \u201coff the fossil fuel rollercoaster\u201d. Miliband stated, \u201cWe see it [as] absolutely in our national interest to not only pursue clean energy domestically at home, but to work with our European allies and friends on delivering it across the North Sea.\u201d He added, \u201cThis clean energy security pact \u2013 the Hamburg declaration \u2013 is an incredibly statement, I think, of our shared commitment to make the North Sea a clean energy powerhouse.\u201d<\/p>\n The announcement comes just after United States President Donald Trump strongly criticised the U.K. for developing its renewable energy sector, particularly wind power, rather than expanding North Sea oil and gas production, when speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/book.jpg\"\/)
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