- Agreement provides blueprint for cooperation on energy and
climate, including clean technologies and security, between
Europe’s two largest economies
- Partnership will bolster cooperation and remove regulatory
barriers on renewables, especially offshore wind and North Sea
electricity interconnection
- UK and Germany will share knowledge on industrial and
buildings decarbonisation
A new partnership between the UK and German governments has been
agreed today (3 November) to help secure safe, affordable and
clean energy for consumers in both nations for the long term and
bolster energy security.
Under the new partnership signed in London by Energy Security
Secretary and Germany’s Vice
Chancellor, Robert Habeck, the UK and Germany have reaffirmed
their shared ambition and commitment to net zero and progressing
the energy transition.
Europe’s two largest economies have also doubled down on
commitments made under the Paris Agreement to limit global
warming to 1.5 degrees.
The energy and climate partnership sees both countries commit
to:
- Enhance cooperation in renewables, notably offshore wind and
electricity interconnection, to remove regulatory barriers and
accelerate deployment of offshore hybrid projects.
- Share industry knowledge and expertise to improve the
exploration of carbon capture, utilisation and storage, including
the cross-border transport of CO2.
- Strengthen and promote regional and global energy security,
including discussions on winter preparedness, security of
infrastructure and supply chains.
- Share best practices and lessons learned on industrial,
buildings and heat decarbonisation, energy efficiency and net
zero policies and strategies.
Energy Security Secretary said:
“The UK and Germany agree on the importance of clean, affordable
energy and we both recognise its crucial role in growing our
economies and guaranteeing national and global energy
security.
“We are already working together in the North Sea to deliver our
world-leading offshore wind ambitions, as well as linking our
countries with subsea electricity cables.
“Today’s agreement will see us extend and deepen our partnership
to ensure we continue to lead Europe and the world in making the
green transition.”
German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic
Affairs and Climate Action Robert Habeck said:
“Germany and the UK face similar challenges. We have made good
progress regarding the transition towards climate neutrality, but
there is still a long path ahead of us. Cooperation with reliable
partners can help all partners to advance not only faster, but
better.
“We can learn from each other’s experiences, share knowledge and
work together to reach our common goals. The joint declaration
signed today builds upon a long history of cooperation and
provides a sound framework for successfully working together in
future.”
The energy and climate partnership incorporates the UK-Germany hydrogen
partnership signed by Lord Callanan in September. This aims
to accelerate the role of low-carbon hydrogen - in particular
from renewable sources – in both nations’ energy mix and
commits to working together to develop the global hydrogen
economy.
Germany was the UK’s second largest trading partner in the four
quarters to the end of Q1 2023, accounting for 8% of total UK
trade. British and German companies are already collaborating on
joint projects in the North Sea and both countries have committed
to maximise its renewables potential, most recently at the Ostend
North Sea Summit.
In the field of offshore wind, around 75% of installed offshore
wind capacity in the North Sea is in German and British waters.
This is helping to drive the UK’s ambition for up to 50GW of
offshore wind, including up to 5GW of floating offshore wind, by
2030. Germany is aiming at installing 30GW by 2030.
The first phase of major construction of the £2.4bn
NeuConnect project, the first subsea electricity cable between
the UK and Germany, was completed this week. The project, once
operational in 2028, has the potential to power up to 1.5 million
homes in the UK and Germany over its lifetime with reliable,
affordable and clean energy. When completed, it will be the
second longest UK electricity power line with approximately 725km
of land and subsea cables, connecting Kent and
Wilhelmshaven.
Another interconnector project connecting the UK to Germany is
currently in development and awaiting regulatory approval from
Ofgem.
Beverley Cornaby, Director, Policy and Systems Change
Collaborations, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
(CISL), said:
"Clean power generation is front-and-centre of the UK's strategy
to reach net zero by 2050. This partnership will support these
aims by providing a blueprint on energy and climate between
Europe’s two largest economies – helping the UK and Germany to
bolster cooperation, remove regulatory barriers on renewables and
share knowledge on industrial decarbonisation."
Notes to editors
