The Hamburg Declaration: a step closer to large-scale offshore wind integration in the North Sea

The Hamburg Declaration, signed in January 2026 by nine North Sea nations, represents an exciting opportunity for cross-border offshore wind development and grid integration in the North Sea. 

A key commitment in the Declaration is that up to 100GW of the 300GW total offshore wind ambition in the North Sea will be developed through hybrid infrastructure projects that connect electricity grids across multiple countries. This coordinated approach will require unprecedented regulatory, planning and technical cooperation between states, transmission system operators and industry. 

To support investment certainty, the Declaration acknowledges the need for market arrangements addressing hybrid-specific risks, identifying cross-border contracts for difference and power purchase agreements as potential mechanisms. An Offshore Financing Framework will help identify cooperation projects, establish fair cost-benefit sharing agreements and attract private finance. Supply chain and infrastructure development will also be prioritised with coordination on technical standards and development of port and manufacturing capacity.

With energy security and system resilience in mind, this harmonised policy signal is designed to provide the certainty needed to mobilise private capital investment to transform the North Sea into the world's largest clean energy hub. 

Our article explores the details and potential of the stated policy ambition further: The Hamburg Declaration a step closer to large-scale offshore wind integration in the North Sea