19/05/2022 (Agence Europe) – In parallel with the presentation of the REPowerEU plan to move the European Union away from dependence on Russian fossil fuels (see EUROPE 12955/4), the energy ministers of Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark met in Esbjerg (Denmark) on Wednesday 18 May to sign a declaration committing them to achieving at least 65 GW of North Sea wind energy capacity by 2030 and at least 150 GW by 2050. The agreement aims to increase offshore wind energy capacity in the region tenfold, making the North Sea the “green power plant of Europe”. The new wind turbines will contribute to “the large-scale onshore and offshore production of green hydrogen”, the statement said, noting that the countries aim to produce a combined total of around 20 GW of renewable hydrogen by 2030. See the statement: https://aeur.eu/f/1pn (DG)