The UK has signed a clean energy security pact with European partners aimed at accelerating joint offshore wind projects in the North Sea and strengthening energy security…reports Asian Lite News
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has signed a clean energy security agreement with European allies designed to boost energy security for households and businesses across the UK and Europe, as governments seek to reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets.
The agreement, known as the Hamburg Declaration, was signed at the Future of the North Seas Summit and commits countries bordering the North Sea to expand cooperation on offshore wind and electricity interconnection. Partners include Germany, Norway, France and Denmark, alongside several other European states.
Central to the deal is a commitment, agreed for the first time, to deliver 100 gigawatts of offshore wind power through joint clean energy projects. These projects will contribute to a wider target set three years ago by North Sea countries to build 300 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2050, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the disruption of European energy supplies.
The joint projects are expected to include so-called offshore wind hybrid assets, which combine offshore wind farms with electricity interconnectors linking more than one country. Supporters say such infrastructure could make better use of wind resources, lower system costs and allow electricity to flow more easily to where it is needed.
The summit followed a recent UK offshore wind auction that the government described as record-breaking, securing 8.4 gigawatts of capacity. Ministers say the auction will unlock thousands of jobs and billions of pounds of private investment in UK manufacturing and port infrastructure.
Speaking at the summit, Miliband said: “We are standing up for our national interest by driving for clean energy, which can get the UK off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and give us energy sovereignty and abundance.” He added that the pact would help maximise the clean energy potential of the North Sea.
Alongside the declaration, the UK signed a statement of intent with Germany, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands to advance an interconnected offshore electricity grid, focusing on joint planning, cost-sharing and market arrangements. The UK and Germany also agreed a framework to deepen collaboration on offshore hybrid assets, with ministers saying this could place UK firms at the forefront of grid technology.
Industry figures broadly welcomed the announcements. Ben Wilson, President of National Grid Ventures, said: “Today is a step towards a more integrated energy system in the North Seas,” adding that collaboration was key to delivering more secure and affordable energy.
Dhara Vyas, Chief Executive of Energy UK, said the sector was “fully behind the landmark efforts” announced at the summit, while Jane Cooper, Deputy Chief Executive of RenewableUK, described the declaration as putting offshore wind “right at the heart of Europe’s power system”.
Business groups also backed closer cooperation. William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said the commitments would allow UK firms to work on joint projects across renewables and interconnectors.
Others stressed the continued role of different energy sources. Enrique Cornejo, Energy Policy Director at Offshore Energies UK, said the future North Sea energy mix would include oil, gas and hydrogen alongside offshore wind.
The government says further work will focus on protecting critical offshore infrastructure and maintaining momentum on cross-border cooperation as projects move from planning to delivery.
