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26 January 2026
Publication series – 81 of 80 Insights
The 3rd North Sea Summit in Hamburg
- In-depth analysis
On 26 January 2026, Germany will host for the first time, the third international North Sea Summit at the Hamburg City Hall. The overriding goal of the summit is to make decisions on closer cooperation in the cross-border expansion of offshore wind energy.
To this end, the heads of state and government as well as the energy ministers from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom will come together. The European Commission and, for the first time, NATO and Iceland have also been invited. In addition, more than one hundred key players from the industry will take part in the meeting, including representatives from the electricity grid, wind energy, large electricity consumers, non-governmental organisations, trade unions and financial institutions.
Background to the North Sea Summit
This summit is the third of its kind and follows the first summit in Esbjerg, Denmark (2022) and the second summit in Ostend (2023), Belgium. The original aim was also to strengthen cooperation between the North Sea coastal states in the expansion of offshore wind energy and thus reduce their joint dependence on fossil fuel imports from Russia in view of the war of aggression against Ukraine. At the first summit, the four founding countries (Germany, Denmark, Belgium and the Netherlands) signed a declaration reaffirming their goal of quadrupling their joint offshore power generation capacity to 150 gigawatts by 2050.
The second North Sea Summit followed in 2023 in Ostend, Belgium. In addition to the “Esbjerg states,” Norway, France, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and Ireland also participated. In Ostend, the participating countries decided to develop the North Sea into a “green power plant for Europe” and to install a capacity of 120 gigawatts by 2030 and a total of 300 gigawatts by 2050 in the North Sea. This goal was subsequently reflected in the European Commission’s communication on achieving the EU’s renewable offshore energy targets (COM/2023/668) from October 2023.
Current situation of offshore wind energy
The offshore wind industry has recently found itself in a difficult situation. In the June 2025 tender round in Germany, for example, only comparatively low bids were submitted and awarded in the dynamic bidding process. This trend continued even more clearly in the subsequent tender round in August 2025: not a single bid was submitted for two areas in the North Sea – the first failed tender for offshore wind areas in Germany. The reasons cited for this reluctance included the tender design, shadowing effects between neighbouring offshore wind farms, rising costs along the entire value chain, interest rate developments, a lack of infrastructure, lengthy approval procedures and bottlenecks in grid connection (see our articles “Offshore wind energy in Germany – current challenges” and “Offshore wind in Germany: From market premium to contracts for difference?”). According to a recent forecast by the German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO), the expansion targets for 2030 could be significantly missed, with only 19.5 GW instead of the planned 30 GW.
A similar picture is emerging in other countries. In November 2024, for example, a tender in Denmark received no bids for reasons like those behind the tender in Germany in August. In the United Kingdom, a round of tenders failed in 2023 because the government had set the price cap for Contracts for Difference (CfD) too low.
Recently, however, there have been glimmers of hope in the industry. The latest tender in the UK was a great success. It was the largest tender for offshore wind areas in Europe to date (8.4 GW), for which numerous bids were received. The British government has allocated a budget of £1.79 billion for the implementation of this tender design, including for the realisation of CfDs. In the Netherlands, a tender for an area of one gigawatt will take place in September 2026 with government support.
Topics of the summit
The third North Sea Summit in Hamburg aims to further advance the implementation of the ambitious joint goal formulated in the Ostend Declaration. Its motto is “From National to Regional”.The main topics for the summit are:
- the creation of suitable investment conditions for offshore wind energy,
- cross-border planning and financing of offshore wind farms and the associated electricity grids,
- the protection of critical infrastructure, and
- cross-border cooperation in the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) has stated that the summit’s objectives are to increase synergy effects in land use, strengthen European electricity trading and ensure better utilisation of the grid infrastructure. This is to be achieved through the planning and implementation of offshore wind farms connected to more than one country, as well as through the connection of offshore wind farms from the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of other countries – so-called cooperation projects. According to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, “the North Sea is to be developed into the largest reservoir of clean energy worldwide.”
Expectations and outlook
As a result of the summit, the German government expects both intergovernmental summit declarations at various levels – a declaration by the heads of state and government and a declaration by the energy ministers – as well as bilateral and multilateral agreements between the North Sea states on cooperation projects. An agreement with industry is also expected.
The results of the summit are eagerly awaited and their signal effect on the industry is likely to be considerable, especially in the current situation. However, it should not be forgotten that summit declarations merely reflect political consensus. They are not binding and do not usually result in binding agreements with commitments regarding resources or timetables. For example, the expansion targets in the Esbjerg and Ostend summit declarations were not incorporated into German or European law but remain a non-binding political goal to this day. The situation is likely to be similar with the expected agreement with industry, especially as it is still completely unclear what the content of such an agreement might be. The only thing that can be expected is that this agreement will increase trust and confidence in the industry.
The bilateral and multilateral agreements, on the other hand, could be more concrete and therefore more interesting. This is particularly true because they relate to cooperation projects. They could therefore contain binding requirements for the planning and implementation of offshore wind farms with electricity connections to more than one country, as well as for the connection of offshore wind farms from the EEZs of other countries.
Regarding the specific content of the summit results, three points deserve particular attention.
Firstly, NATO was invited to the summit for the first time, and the protection of critical infrastructure was listed by the BMWE as a separate important topic. It can therefore be assumed that the defence of European power generation infrastructure in the North Sea will form a significant part of the summit declaration. In view of the existing draft bills on the implementation of the CER Directive (EU 2022/2557) into a German KRITIS (Critical Infrastructure Protection) umbrella law and on the implementation of the NIS 2 Directive (EU 2022/2555), no major innovations are to be expected. Nevertheless, a common line on the protection of offshore power generation infrastructure would be welcome.
Secondly, the German government has made cross-border cooperation on the expansion of hydrogen infrastructure and the hydrogen market a key topic for the summit. The importance of hydrogen for the industry of the future is well known and is already being promoted through a national hydrogen strategy and at EU level. However, the summit could bring interesting innovations, particularly regarding bilateral and multilateral agreements on cooperation projects in the North Sea.
Thirdly, given the success of the CfD tender in the UK, it can be assumed that the tender design for creating suitable investment conditions for offshore wind energy will be a key topic. The EU Electricity Market Regulation (EU 2024/1747) already stipulates the use of CfDs or equivalent market instruments for tenders from 2027 onwards. However, the specific design of the tenders is still open, as was also evident in the BMWE’s consultation process on the amendment of the Offshore Wind Energy Act. Guidelines for uniform tenders in the North Sea region would be desirable, but expectations should not be too high. Nevertheless, broad approval of CfD-like instruments would send an important signal to the market.
In this series
EEG 2027 – Overview of the Planned Amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act
10 March 2026
by Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham), Dr. Christian Ertel
The NIS2 Directive: Challenges Renewable Energy Companies
18 February 2026
EU specifies certification of permanent CO₂ removals
11 February 2026
by Dr. Janina Pochhammer, Dr. Niels L. Lange, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Electricity Tax Amendment 2025/2026: New rules for BESS, charging infrastructure and renewable energies
14 January 2026
Battery storage systems in outdoor areas - current classification in accordance with § 35 BauGB
19 December 2025
HR compliance in the energy sector – customs authorities step up the fight against sham-employment
15 December 2025
The Current Challenges for Offshore Wind Energy in Germany
2 December 2025
by Multiple authors
Offshore wind in Germany: from market premiums to Contracts for Difference?
28 November 2025
by Multiple authors
Energy Sharing under Section 42 of the German Energy Industry Act (EnWG)
26 November 2025
Bundestag Decides on the Privileging of Battery Storage Facilities in Outdoor Areas under § 35 (1) BauGB
12 November 2025
Industrial electricity price: Initial assessment and opportunities for companies
21 November 2025
by Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham), Johannes Schaadt-Wambach, LL.M. (Prag)
FIDIC – An introduction to the FIDIC Suite 2017
22 October 2025
by Multiple authors
The Renewable Energy Expansion Acceleration Act – a boost for the energy transition in Austria?
23 September 2025
Federal Network Agency discussion paper on reforming grid fees for industry and commerce
25 September 2025
by Multiple authors
German-Dutch Treaty on Cross-Border Energy Projects
18 September 2025
by Multiple authors
Energy communities in Austria and the new Electricity Industry Act (ElWG)
15 September 2025
New amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) introduced in July and August 2025
8 September 2025
Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) – a new state aid framework for the green transformation of industry
8 September 2025
by Dr. Michael Brüggemann, Johannes Schaadt-Wambach, LL.M. (Prag)
Industrial electricity prices: initial assessment and opportunities for businesses
18 August 2025
by Johannes Schaadt-Wambach, LL.M. (Prag), Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Regulatory Framework for Transmission System Operators in Germany
18 August 2025
by Multiple authors
Court ruling on the effectiveness of availability guarantees for wind turbines
31 July 2025
New Legal Framework for the Commercial Use of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)
11 July 2025
by Multiple authors
Are offshore wind converter platforms a bottleneck in the energy transition? New German government wants to create production capacities at German shipyards
17 June 2025
by Multiple authors
Speeding up the energy transition - the new German government’s plans for gas and steam power plants and its quest for the right technology for renewable energy
8 May 2025
by Multiple authors
Update - Change of government opens the door to carbon capture and storage and carbon capture and utilisation
17 April 2025
by Multiple authors
The special fund for infrastructure and climate protection - what is next?
10 April 2025
by Multiple authors
Changes to CBAM through Omnibus legislative package
10 April 2025
The role of heat probes in the energy transition: Authorisation procedures and potential
26 March 2025
CJEU judgement on customer installations in accordance with Section 3 No. 24a Law on the Energy Industry EnWG
26 March 2025
by Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham), Dr. Christian Ertel
Will the new German government open the door for carbon capture and storage?
26 February 2025
by Multiple authors
Waste heat from data centres - new reporting obligations under the EnEfG
6 February 2025
by Multiple authors
Oman and Belgium Sign Landmark MoU on Green Hydrogen Cooperation
11 December 2024
Decision day: Grid fee exemption in customer systems and energy price brake put to the test
28 November 2024
by Dr. Christian Ertel, Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Hydrogen core network - The Federal Network Agency’s strategy for the energy transition
11 November 2024
by Multiple authors
Amendment to the Energy Industry Act: changes for energy supply companies and grid and system operators
18 September 2024
by Dr. Christian Ertel, Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Standard Essential Patents: A new challenge for the IoT and smart meter world
10 September 2024
Land acquisition and data protection: The importance of the GDPR when project developers request owner data
18 July 2024
by Dr. Patrick Vincent Zurheide, LL.M. (Aberdeen), Dr. Julia Wulff
Municipalities to share profit in wind turbines and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems
11 July 2024
Solar Package I - Overview of Changes to Ground-Mounted and Building-Mounted PV Systems
27 May 2024
Mandatory special charge for open space photovoltaic systems in Brandenburg
21 February 2024
A new era for wind energy investments in Hungary
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
26 January 2024
Updating the National Hydrogen Strategy
6 November 2023
by Dr. Niels L. Lange, LL.M. (Stellenbosch), Dr. Janina Pochhammer
The new CO2 border adjustment mechanism (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism - “CBAM”) - first statutory reporting obligations set for January 2024
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
3 November 2023
New IT security requirements for the energy sector
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
1 September 2023
by Dr. Paul Voigt, Lic. en Derecho, CIPP/E, Alexander Schmalenberger, LL.B.
Does monument protection hinder the expansion of renewable energies?
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
16 August 2023
The amending law to strengthen digitisation in the urban land use planning process and the further expansion of renewable energies
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
6 July 2023
Challenges for data center operators - The federal government’s draft bill for an energy efficiency act
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
12 April 2023
by Multiple authors
The Energy Charter Treaty in the Light of the Electricity Price Brake: An opportunity for investors to litigate?
27 January 2023
Ordinance for Determining Critical Infrastructures (KritisV): Renewable energy plants as critical infrastructure and requirements for IT protection
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
12 July 2022
by Dr. Paul Voigt, Lic. en Derecho, CIPP/E, Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Liquefied Natural Gas Projects in Germany: The LNG Acceleration Act
Q&A series: Energy & Infrastructure
10 June 2022
Participation of local municipalities in the context of wind and photovoltaic projects
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
5 May 2022
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up – France
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
27 April 2022
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up - United Kingdom
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
15 March 2022
Building energy performance: the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
14 February 2022
Fit for 55 – Hydrogen and the Reform of the European Gas Market
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
11 January 2022
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up – Netherlands
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2 December 2021
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up – Poland
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
21 September 2021
by Olav Nemling
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up – Austria
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
18 August 2021
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up - Germany
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
12 July 2021
Floating Foundations for Offshore Wind Farms
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8 June 2021
Species protection exemption: Significance for wind energy
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
25 May 2021
Power-to-Hydrogen
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
6 April 2021
Focus PV – Floating Solar and Agrivoltaics
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
23 March 2021
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