General – Politics
Germany and Denmark are pushing ahead with a plan to turn Bornholm in the Baltic Sea into an energy island that will bolster ‘common security’ at times of increasing geopolitical tension.
The agreement marks a first key delivery of the Energy Highways initiative set out as part of the European Grids Package published in December 2025.
A first-of-its-kind project, the wind farm links 3 GW of electricity generated offshore to the Danish and German national grids. It will transform offshore wind energy from a national resource into a shared European resource for electrification. It also has the potential to turn the Baltic Sea into an offshore hub that will serve as a blueprint for future offshore projects across the EU.
Prioritised as a project of common interest (PCI), the project is backed by a €645 million grant for works from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility. PCIs remain one of the Commission’s essential means to address the most pressing priorities and challenges of cross-border energy infrastructure and to target investments accordingly.
Welcoming the agreement, Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen said: “This agreement on the Bornholm Energy Island is a truly remarkable example of Europe working together to deliver clean, homegrown, safe and affordable energy to its citizens. The Bornholm Energy Island is a blueprint for EU offshore renewable energy. This is a project the European Commission has strongly supported and recently marked as a key strategic interconnection as part of our Energy Highways initiative. Amid turbulent geopolitics, this is the leadership Europe must deliver. At a time when some go back to fossil fuels and turn their back on the huge potential of offshore wind and renewable energy, Europe stands firm in its choice of home-grown clean energy. This is pivotal to delivering the affordability of living to our citizens. To ensure industrial competitiveness and economic prosperity. To fight climate change. And to reinforce our security. This is Europe’s pathway for independence.”
