Nine European countries agree on world's largest wind farm

2026-02-19 08:08:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Just days after US President Donald Trump sharply criticized wind energy during a speech in Davos, nine European countries signed an agreement to build a giant wind energy center in the North Sea.

The agreement was reached within the framework of the North Sea Summit and was signed by Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom.

100 gigawatts of clean energy

According to the joint statement, the project aims to produce 100 gigawatts of offshore wind power – enough to power about 50 million homes. The power will be transmitted via high-voltage underwater cables, connecting the participating countries to a common energy grid. The center is expected to become the world's largest clean energy center.

Movement for energy security

The project comes at a time when Europe is trying to reduce its dependence on energy imports. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the continent sharply reduced imports of Russian gas and increased supplies of liquefied natural gas from the United States.

However, experts warn that dependence on imports – regardless of the source – remains a strategic weakness. Currently, the European Union imports nearly 60% of the energy it consumes.

Contrast with the USA

While the Trump administration has emphasized the priority of fossil fuels and criticized clean energy policies, European countries are seeing renewable energy as a guarantee of economic and political independence.

Wind and solar energy accounted for around 30% of electricity production in the EU by 2025, surpassing fossil fuels for the first time.

A strategic turn

The North Sea, once the epicenter of the oil and gas industry, is gradually becoming a hub for clean energy. With relatively shallow waters and strong, consistent winds, the area is considered among the most promising in the world for the development of offshore wind energy.

European officials emphasize that the project is not a direct reaction to Trump's statements, but part of a long-term strategy for energy security, cost reduction, and meeting climate goals.

With this agreement, Europe aims to strengthen its position as a global leader in renewable energy and significantly reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports./ CNA