The Energy Ministers from nine North Seas countries have reaffirmed their commitment to transforming the region into “Europe's green power plant” during the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) ministerial meeting held in Odense, Denmark. They issued clear recommendations to the new EU Commission on enhancing support for this ambition, particularly emphasizing the need to strengthen Europe's wind energy supply chain.
The ministers called for the swift advancement of hybrid offshore wind farms through the establishment of a cost-sharing formula and a dedicated offshore financing facility. They underscored the importance of full UK involvement in these efforts.
In a joint NSEC declaration, the ministers from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Norway identified six key areas for collaboration. These include improving the competitiveness of Europe's offshore wind supply chain and reinventing offshore wind financing. Trade body WindEurope has stressed the necessity of rethinking offshore wind planning, noting that national supply chain strategies alone will not suffice given the substantial offshore wind volumes expected in the coming years.
Investment in new and expanded factories will require international cooperation and coordination at the sea-basin level, according to WindEurope. The organization highlighted that a robust European supply chain is essential for the continued expansion of offshore wind. WindEurope welcomed the EU's support for tighter pre-qualification criteria related to cybersecurity, responsible business conduct, and project delivery capabilities.
The NSEC recommendations also called for a “digital transparency tool” to provide visibility across the entire wind energy value chain, encompassing auction schedules, manufacturing capacities, equipment needs, and port capabilities across the North Seas countries. The goal is for this tool to eventually cover all of Europe, including the UK and Norway.
Despite current supply chain bottlenecks—particularly concerning the availability of offshore installation vessels, port infrastructure, onshore grid connections, and skilled workers—WindEurope indicated that the European offshore wind supply chain is ramping up. By the end of 2025, Europe is projected to manufacture 9.5GW of offshore wind turbines annually.
European companies are set to invest at least €10 billion to establish new factories and expand existing ones for various components, including wind turbines, foundations, cables, and grid equipment. The continent must continue to facilitate access to capital, create a level playing field with non-European competitors, and accelerate grid development to ensure the European supply chain meets demand.
With initiatives like the European Wind Power Package and the EU Grids Action Plan, the European Commission has already taken significant steps to bolster investments in the wind industry and its supporting infrastructure. The European Investment Bank (EIB) has also increased its support for Europe's wind sector by providing crucial counter-guarantees.
However, WindEurope emphasized that additional regional measures are necessary to facilitate investments, particularly for hybrid offshore wind farms that connect multiple countries, energy islands, and meshed grids. Discussions on establishing an “offshore regional facility” to unlock financing at the sea-basin level have already commenced, which could support funding for meshed grid infrastructure and hybrid offshore projects.
WindEurope stressed the urgency of setting a regulatory framework and defining a cost-sharing formula for hybrid offshore wind projects. “Hybrid projects are the future of offshore wind in the North Seas, and the focus must now be on getting the first projects built,” the organization stated.
WindEurope Chief Executive Giles Dickson commended the North Seas Energy Ministers for clearly identifying the necessary steps to accelerate offshore wind development and outlining what the EU must do during its new five-year mandate.
