The energy transition requires a fully CO₂‑neutral energy system, and offshore wind in the North Sea plays a key role in achieving this. The North Sea Wind Power Hub explores how countries surrounding the North Sea can generate wind energy on a large scale and share it efficiently. This video explains how the hub‑and‑spoke concept works: multiple energy hubs at sea that connect wind farms, distribute electricity between countries, and convert it into hydrogen or other sustainable energy carriers. This innovative approach brings a climate‑neutral energy system closer and shows how international cooperation forms the foundation for a sustainable future.
The video was produced by TenneT and is in English.
[Dit is een video van Rijkswaterstaat, Ministerie van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat met de titel: North Sea Wind Power Hub.]
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The Earth is a beautiful planet. To keep it that way. The future depends on what we do now.
[Mist in de bergen.]
[Bosbrand trekt over een veld. Berichten over global warming in de media. Straat in Parijs. Eiffeltoren.]
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With the aim of reaching the Paris Agreement. Climate goals in time. The entire energy sector must be fully decarbonized before 2050. The share of renewable energies faces a significant increase. This includes a massive offshore wind energy buildout. With the planned rollout rates and it's enough to meet the climate goals. That's why we need to utilize the North Sea wind power resource efficiently.
[Een offshore windpark.]
[Oog met technische overlay animaties. Kijkt in de camera.]
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We can do this by changing the way we connect all future wind paths, from radial connections to individual countries to having the North Sea countries work together. By connecting the wind parts to several hubs and distribute the energy from here. With each hub having a capacity of 10 to 16GW, we can both provide the necessary connection capacity of offshore wind by 2050 and also meet the required interconnection capacity between countries.
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To balance the excess of renewable energy produced in one country with the shortage in another. The modular hub and spoke concept provides the much needed flexibility that enables adaptation of each hub to the specific conditions of its location. Using either jacket based or gravity based structures, Kaesong or sand filled islands. This will be done with minimal environmental impact, always with respect for nature and local marine life.
[Animatie. Lijnen op zee.]
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All the renewable energy produced at sea is distributed to shore and through the onshore energy infrastructure to end users across Europe. When there's a loss of wind but the need for electricity is low, it can be converted into hydrogen or other renewable energy carriers. A process called power to X, which can replace fossil fuels when the technology is sufficiently mature.
[Animatie. Lijnen op landkaart.]
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The conversion of power to other energy carriers may even happen at the hub. This will save costs when transferring the energy to the end users onshore, or allow the energy to be used as feedstock for industrial processes. By utilizing power to exit either onshore or at the hub. It allows a broader energy system such as transport, shipping and aviation to be decarbonized.
[Unknown]
Offshore wind connected to a single hub would be sufficient to power one out of 12 transatlantic flights, or provide electricity to one third of German households. So imagine what multiple hubs can do. Power to X also enables us to store large energy volumes for long periods of time, and gives us the much needed ability to balance the energy system based on demand and strengthen the security of supply.
[Lichtgevende stippen op de wereldbol.]
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This coupling of energy sectors will bring us closer to our climate goals. The North Sea Wind Power Hub program works to make this ambition technically and economically feasible, while securely integrating the offshore wind energy into the onshore energy system. The hub and spoke concept shows how close we are to realizing a greener future. The first project can be operational in the early 2030s.
[Unknown]
All we need is to take action by planning the future together. Today.
[Logo. North Sea Wind Power Up Program.]
[Powered by Energinet, Tennet, Gasunie.]
[Co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union.]
[Dit is een productie van Rijkswaterstaat 2021.]