North Sea Energy 6 focuses on international cooperation in the North Sea
With the start of North Sea Energy 6 (NSE6), the research programme has entered a new phase. While previous phases focused primarily on the development of integrated energy systems within the Dutch part of the North Sea, the focus is now explicitly shifting to an international approach. NSE6 officially started at the beginning of this year and runs until mid-2028. The programme has a budget of €6.348.464 and is supported through the TKI Nieuw Gas public-private partnership scheme.
The program focuses on designing and analyzing an integrated North Sea energy system in which electricity, hydrogen, CO₂, and natural gas are developed and managed in a coordinated manner. This step marks a logical next phase in a research program that has evolved over the past few years from exploratory studies to concrete system designs, infrastructure scenarios, and policy-oriented roadmaps. At the same time, the program remains far from limited to research: several spin-off pilots and projects have since been established by NSE partners to test and demonstrate innovative concepts in practice.
The North Sea as an integrated energy system
The North Sea offers exceptional opportunities for the development of a future climate-neutral energy system. The area combines favorable natural conditions, existing energy infrastructure, and suitable geological structures. As a result, the North Sea can develop into a crucial factor in the energy supply for Northwest Europe.
The earlier phases of the North Sea Energy programme, NSE1 through NSE5, have collectively demonstrated that the greatest value of the North Sea can be unlocked through system integration: the smart connection of offshore wind energy, hydrogen production, CO₂ storage, and existing oil and gas infrastructure into a single coherent energy system. The earlier projects investigated the extent to which the reuse of existing infrastructure and the development of integrated offshore energy hubs are essential to reduce costs, accelerate the rollout of new energy projects, and structurally reduce CO₂ emissions. At the same time, it became clear that large-scale system integration is not only a technical challenge but also depends on appropriate market models, policy interventions, and international cooperation. Furthermore, the projects have provided insight into the strategic potential of hydrogen as an energy carrier, the necessity of spatial and nature-inclusive design in the North Sea, and the importance of scenario development and roadmaps to support investment decisions. These joint findings form the substantive basis for the current step towards an internationally integrated energy system in NSE6.
NSE6: an international systems approach to the North Sea
With NSE6, the focus shifts from national development to an integrated approach to the North Sea as an international energy system. In this new phase, offshore clusters in multiple countries are being connected with the aim of designing a coherent system for electricity, hydrogen, CO₂, and natural gas.
The central research questions within NSE6 focus on three main themes:
- Resolving spatial conflicts in the North Sea
The growth of offshore energy projects is leading to increasing pressure on available space. The program investigates how various functions, such as offshore wind, natural gas production, CO₂ storage, nature, shipping, and defense, can be better aligned and how spatial conflicts can be reduced. - Strengthening the safety and defensibility of offshore infrastructure
The strategic importance of offshore energy infrastructure is increasing rapidly. NSE6 therefore focuses on enhancing the safety, reliability, and resilience of critical infrastructure at sea. - Bridging the economic gap in offshore energy projects
Many innovative offshore projects are in a phase where technical feasibility has been demonstrated, but economic feasibility is not yet self-evident. The program investigates policy instruments and market mechanisms that can reduce this economic gap.
Towards a joint North Sea-wide roadmap
An important goal of NSE6 is to develop a joint roadmap for a safe, sustainable, and integrated energy system in the North Sea. This is being done in close collaboration with stakeholders from industry, government, knowledge institutions, and civil society organizations.
Approaching the North Sea as a single integrated energy system creates the opportunity to leverage synergy benefits, use infrastructure more efficiently, and better coordinate investments.
For more information and future updates on the North Sea Energy programme, visit the website via the button below.