Overview
- Ten countries including Germany, the United Kingdom and France agreed in Hamburg on January 26 to interconnect offshore wind farms across borders.
- The plan is designed to make up to about 100 gigawatts available to participating states, which European media estimate could supply roughly 143 million households.
- Participants set a collective goal to expand offshore wind capacity to at least 300 gigawatts by 2050.
- Officials framed the network as a step to cut dependence on Russian energy during the war in Ukraine.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany aims to be the first to connect a fusion reactor to the grid and described wind power as a necessary but transitional technology for the next 10–30 years, citing persistently high electricity costs at home.