Ostend (dpa) – Wind energy from the North Sea is to make a key contribution to supplying Europe with electricity in the future. In Ostend in Belgium, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and representatives of other North Sea states signed a declaration to drive forward the expansion of offshore wind farms with a view to turning the North Sea into a green power station for Europe. “With the North Sea, we have the energy powerhouse right on our doorstep,” said Chancellor Scholz – urging haste: “Let’s get to work.” He said that the North Sea would soon become an important site of energy production.
Specifically, the nine states – which besides Germany and Belgium encompass the Netherlands, France, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg and the UK – want to build offshore wind turbines with a capacity of 120 gigawatts by 2030. By 2050, the plan is to generate at least 300 gigawatts in the North Sea. This could supply 300 million households with energy, said Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. At the same time, the production of green hydrogen is to be expanded.