The UK and nine other European countries have joined forces to build a groundbreaking offshore wind power grid in the North Sea. This project aims to transform the old oil basin into a “clean energy reservoir.” The plan involves creating wind farms at sea that connect several countries through high-voltage subsea cables. They expect to produce 100GW of offshore wind power, enough electricity to power 143 million homes. Energy ministers from the UK, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Norway are set to sign the "Hamburg declaration" on Monday. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the UK was “standing up for our national interest” by pushing for clean energy and moving “off the fossil fuel rollercoaster.” This pact comes just days after US President Donald Trump criticized the UK’s plans to phase out North Sea oil and gas production and commented negatively on European wind power. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said, “There are windmills all over Europe. There are windmills all over the place and they are losers. One thing I’ve noticed is that the more windmills a country has, the more money that country loses and the worse that country is doing.” The new agreement strengthens Europe's commitment to wind power after earlier pledges to build 300GW of offshore wind in the North Sea by 2050. Miliband is also expected to sign a statement of intent with Germany, Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands to promote cross-border offshore electricity projects focused on joint planning and sharing costs. Energy UK, the UK's trade association, fully supports the “landmark efforts … to transform the North Sea into a truly regional clean power hub.” Its CEO Dhara Vyas said, “This deeper cooperation on supply chains, standardisation and shared infrastructure is not just a strategic necessity, it is the most effective way to bring down energy costs for households and businesses while fuelling sustainable economic growth and high-value jobs for years to come.” In 2023, wind and solar energy overtook fossil fuels in the EU's power generation, providing 30% of electricity. Recently, the UK government awarded record subsidies for offshore wind projects to boost its goal of creating a clean electricity system by 2030.