North Sea Summit: Moving towards a shared vision for offshore wind, grids and marine ecosystems in the North Seas

Today, representatives of OCEaN attended the third North Sea Summit in Hamburg, where governments, the offshore wind industry, and transmission system operators committed to a series of targeted actions to strengthen the role of the North Seas in the green energy transition through the Joint Offshore Wind Investment Pact for the North Seas.

Beyond its role as a power hub, the North Sea is an ecologically rich and environmentally important area that must be protected and restored alongside the expansion of offshore energy infrastructure. This broader and shared vision was reflected in the Declarations released at the Summit. These include the Hamburg Declaration of Energy Ministers, which sends a strong signal in support of a more regional and coordinated approach to offshore wind and grid development. Among the priority areas identified, it recognises the need for better integration of energy planning, Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP), biodiversity and ecosystem protection, and data sharing at sea-basin level.

From the perspective of industry, the Offshore Wind Industry Declaration outlines clear commitments to decarbonisation, circularity, marine ecosystem protection, and engagement with local communities.

These government and industry commitments are aligned with OCEaN’s objectives and long-standing work. OCEaN Members therefore look forward to seeing these commitments implemented, as outlined in our press release published today.

Looking ahead, OCEaN and its Members will actively contribute to the implementation of the North Sea Summit outcomes through their engagement with relevant EU, regional and national stakeholders, in particular the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC), the Greater North Sea Basin Initiative (GNSBI), OSPAR and other relevant regional and international initiatives. OCEaN will also contribute to the revision of the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and the European Ocean Act, which will be key instruments in supporting cross-border coordination and effective implementation at sea-basin level.

Together with our Members, OCEaN is committed to continuing to monitor progress and to contributing evidence-based solutions to deliver on both climate and nature conservation objectives.

Quotes of support from our Members