Many countries are facing the challenge of switching to renewable energies in order to reduce emissions. Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway are setting a good example with a new partnership and want to tackle this issue together.
To this end, they have entered into an energy partnership to take a closer look at maritime and offshore energy in the North Sea.
Maritime Cluster Northern Germany, Netherlands Business Support Office Hamburg, The Danish Maritime, the Province of Groningen and NOM (Investment and Development Agency for the Northern Netherlands) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the countries. The aim of the new partnership is to strengthen cooperation in the development of maritime and offshore energy in the entire North Sea region, thereby setting an important milestone in European cooperation in the energy sector.
The strategic agreement, which was recently signed at Innovation Norway’s office in Hamburg, aims to find common ground for cooperation to accelerate the transition to sustainable maritime and energy production by bringing together the expertise of companies and institutions from each country.
The key points of the cooperation
- Green fuels for maritime: A joint investigation will be established to deepen the understanding on demand and supply of alternative fuels, the establishment of green corridors and its operation
- Decarbonization: The MoU plans to leverage the activities of each country and offer on a regional basis the knowledge and benchmarks gained along the years of expertise with carbon management solutions
- Sensoring, automation, digitalization and autonomy: Plans to understand the availability of sensoring, remotely operated vehicles, digitalization and how this knowledge can be shared
- Maritime safety: how to safely build and monitor subsea infrastructure, understand the seabed and environment conditions
- Mapping the offshore wind expansion and the required infrastructure: The four nations will try to bring together their expertise to offer the safer, leaner and mostly cost-efficient solutions
About the “North Sea Alliance”
The cooperation builds on the existing relationships and extensive maritime expertise of Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. It is an important step towards creating an integrated, sustainable maritime ecosystem in the North Sea region.
