Move Over, Fossil Fuels: Four Countries Plan to Increase Europe’s Wind Capacity Tenfold

Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark have pledged to work together to build a “green power plant” for Europe — one that will generate at least 150 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity. 

The green power plant is to be located in the North Sea by the year 2050, according to a cooperation agreement signed by the four countries in Denmark on May 18. The promised 150 GW of wind capacity translates to enough energy to power 230 million homes across Europe. What’s more, the project will be developed jointly, financed jointly, and the electricity is distributed jointly among the four nations. 

“Today’s agreement by the energy ministers is an important milestone in cross-border cooperation. It is the basis for the first real European power plants that also generate electricity from renewable energies,” says German Vice-Chancellor and economic minister, Robert Habeck. 

The new cooperation agreement comes during a period of accelerated transition to renewable energy markedly because of EU dependence on Russian oil and gas. The project will increase the current EU wind capacity tenfold and pledges to generate green hydrogen and green fuels for industries and transportation that cannot easily be electrified.