Helgoland faces temporary power outage as North Sea gas expansion faces scrutiny

The German island of Helgoland will temporarily operate autonomously from mainland power and internet due to maintenance on its subsea cable. From September 16 to September 18, 2026, electricity will be provided by diesel generators. While emergency services remain accessible, internet, mobile, and landline services are expected to be interrupted for approximately ten hours on Thursday, September 17.

Separately, the Dutch energy company One-Dyas is seeking to expand fossil fuel production near the German border. The company has applied for new gas production platforms and pipelines for the N04-A and N04-C fields near Borkum. The Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has raised concerns regarding this expansion, noting that the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) views the proposed location as unsuitable due to potential conflicts with shipping safety. The site is located approximately 650 meters from the German border, adjacent to the Borkum Riffgrund marine protected area.