North Sea Summit 2026: Hydrogen as an important component of an integrated offshore energy strategy?

At the third North Sea Summit, which brought together representatives of the North Sea states, the offshore wind industry and transmission system operators in Hamburg at the invitation of the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the end of January 2026, participants reaffirmed their vision of transforming the North Sea region into the largest clean energy hub of the world. As part of the expansion of cross-border cooperation in energy supply, several publications from the meeting stress the importance of hydrogen as an important component of an integrated offshore energy strategy in Europe.

The Hamburg Declaration and other resolutions

The key outcomes of the summit were compiled in a joint "Hamburg Declaration" by the heads of state and government and a Declaration by the Energy Ministers. In addition, further declarations and agreements between North Sea States and players in the wind and energy industry were signed on the occasion of the summit.

• The focus is on the expansion of offshore wind energy with a declared target of 300 GW of generation capacity by 2050. Up to 100 GW of this is to be developed through cross-border projects.
• Through increased cooperation among the North Sea States, in particular within the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC), and measures to strengthen planning certainty and support investments in the industry, the North Sea region is to become Europe's largest clean energy power plant.
• The production and use of hydrogen is considered to play an important role as part of an integrated offshore energy market. The declarations regard hydrogen as an important component in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and energy imports. The overarching goal is to strengthen energy security in Europe.
• In contrast to offshore wind energy, however, the declarations for the expansion of offshore hydrogen do not contain any key figures or target values.
• The Hamburg Declaration by heads of state and government emphasises that the sufficient and affordable supply and availability of low-carbon or renewable hydrogen (see colour theory in hydrogen) can play an important role in developing a climate-neutral future and maintaining global industrial leadership.

Integration of offshore wind and offshore hydrogen

Targeted cooperation within the NSEC is intended to promote the development of projects that link offshore wind and offshore hydrogen. The expansion of a hydrogen infrastructure should be market driven and based on a pragmatic regulatory framework, taking into account supply, demand, existing energy infrastructure and CCUS.

The energy ministers' statement emphasises that offshore hydrogen systems can offer significant synergies with the direct use of offshore electricity. A special offshore hydrogen transport infrastructure could enable cross-border hydrogen trade between the North Sea States. The decisive factor is that these projects are cost-effective and offer added value for the energy system.

To realise this potential, the energy ministers have agreed that the coordination of cross-border energy projects should be improved and that the various stakeholders should discuss the possibilities for establishing an offshore hydrogen economy.

• Specifically, the OTC (Offshore TSO Collaboration) and HyNOS (Hydrogen Networks for the Northern Seas) are called upon to join forces in identifying possible interfaces in order to create a groundwork for coordinated offshore system planning that combines offshore wind energy with hydrogen production and any necessary energy transportation.
• In addition, cooperation in the field of research and development of offshore hydrogen production is to be improved and the potential for the use of offshore hydrogen systems throughout the North Sea region is to be investigated. Electricity and hydrogen transmission system operators are to jointly assess the potential and synergies within the OTC and HyNOS.
• According to the action plan supplementing the energy ministers' declaration, the countries participating in the North Sea Summit are to develop a long-term strategy for combining offshore wind and offshore hydrogen projects by Q4 2026.

Joint Offshore Wind Investment Pact

The North Sea States, the European wind industry, transmission system operators and HyNOS have signed an joint offshore wind investment pact for the north seas. Considering the possibilities for offshore hydrogen development in the North Sea region, the stakeholders intend to meet regularly to discuss new developments and potential. For planned projects, they intend to examine whether a hydrogen connection to the converter station is proportionate and cost-effective in order to keep open the possibility of connecting an H2 electrolyser in the future. This assessment will be made on a case-by-case basis.

The bilateral agreement on strategic energy partnership concluded on the sidelines of the summit between Denmark and Germany underlines the importance of regional cooperation in the area of a special cross-border hydrogen infrastructure that connects Danish production and German demand for renewable hydrogen.

• The parties reaffirm their continued determination to support the realisation of a hydrogen interconnector between Denmark and Germany as one of the top priorities on the bilateral agenda.
• A working group, yet to be established, will further specify the conditions for cross-border cooperation projects in the field of offshore wind energy and renewable hydrogen.

Summary and outlook

The results of the third North Sea Summit show that hydrogen continues to play an important role in energy infrastructure planning for North Sea States and industry players. Even though specific projects are lacking and the scope of hydrogen production and infrastructure in the North Sea region has not yet been quantified, the summit participants agreed to further explore the potential of offshore hydrogen and to take it into account in the planning of the "green North Sea power plant". Hydrogen should not be viewed in isolation but is part of a joint offshore system that links electricity and hydrogen infrastructure.

We will keep you up to date about further developments in offshore hydrogen in the North Sea region and possible hydrogen projects.

The EU/COMP team at CHATHAM PARTNERS specialises in complex issues and procedures relating to hydrogen projects and is happy to advise you on their planning and implementation, in particular in connection with procurement and planning procedures as well as funding opportunities. We closely collaborate with other teams of our firm, especially our Energy team.

We would like to thank Dr. Christoph Ludwig and Tobias Himmelsbach for their valuable support in preparing this article.