File photograph: Getty ImagesIreland has signed up to a pan-European pact aimed at turning the North Sea into the world’s largest reservoir of clean, green energy. Minister for Energy Darragh O’Brien, signed a declaration in Hamburg, Germany, following a high-level gathering on boosting co-operation and planning for offshore wind energy infrastructure. He said Ireland was well located to benefit from the new plans to deliver wind energy at scale, and would benefit greatly from plans for greater co-ordination and planning of interconnectors to boost European energy sharing. The long-term goal is up to 300GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050. Last year, Ireland generated 40 per cent of its energy from renewables and aims to reach 80 per cent by 2030.

Source: The Irish Times January 27, 2026 16:34 UTC