Energy Minister Darragh O’Brien (right) with his German counterpart Katherina Reiche at the North Sea Summit in Hamburg

Energy Minister Darragh O’Brien (right) with his German counterpart Katherina Reiche at the North Sea Summit in Hamburg

Ireland’s commitment to the development of a European “green power plant” in the North Sea has been hailed as a “historic” step in the switch away from fossil fuels.

Energy Minister Darragh O’Brien yesterday attended the North Sea Summit in Hamburg and signed a declaration on cross-border co-operation in the development and defence of offshore renewable energy infrastructure.