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Copenhagen — Marking a significant milestone for Europe’s energy transition, the European Commission has signed a €645.2 million grant agreement to support the Bornholm Energy Island (BEI) hybrid offshore project. The agreement, backed under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Energy programme, was signed in the presence of Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, during the informal Energy Council hosted by the Danish Presidency in Copenhagen.
The Bornholm Energy Island, led jointly by Denmark’s Energinet and Germany’s 50Hertz, is the world’s first hybrid direct current interconnector project. It will connect multiple offshore wind farms via a single hub on the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. The project is designed to deliver 3 GW of renewable electricity to Denmark and Germany, powering millions of homes and businesses with clean energy.
The EU’s funding will support the construction of two new converter stations—one on Bornholm and one on Zealand—as well as the installation of a 200-kilometre submarine cable and a 17-kilometre onshore connection between Zealand and Bornholm. This infrastructure will provide a flexible flow of electricity across borders, enhancing security of supply, price stability, and integration of renewable energy on a larger scale.
“This project is a blueprint for future offshore power development in the EU,” said Commissioner Jørgensen. “Not only will it help integrate renewable energy and decarbonise our system, but it will also boost competitiveness and deliver cleaner, cheaper energy to millions of consumers across borders.”
The Commission has supported the Bornholm Energy Island from the planning stages, granting it the status of a Project of Common Interest (PCI) and now providing substantial financial backing. The initiative is expected to serve as a model for future offshore energy projects, unlocking technical and innovative solutions for large-scale deployment.
With CEF Energy funding, the EU continues to advance cross-border infrastructure projects that reinforce the Energy Union, strengthen competitiveness, and accelerate the clean energy transition.
