The UK and Germany have reaffirmed their shared net zero and energy transition ambitions through a new partnership.
The climate and energy partnership commits both countries to removing regulatory barriers and accelerating the deployment of offshore hybrid projects; sharing industry knowledge and expertise in an effort to improve the exploration of carbon capture, utilisation and storage; and enhancing cooperation in renewables, especially offshore wind and electricity interconnection.
It comes the same week that the first phase of the £2.4bn NeuConnect project completed. Once fully operational in 2028, NeuConnect – which is the first subsea electricity cable running between the UK and Germany – will be capable of powering up to 1.5mn homes and also become the second longest UK electricity powerline at 725km.
Under the partnership, both the UK and Germany are pledging to strengthen and promote regional and global energy security, including through discussions on winter preparedness, security of infrastructure and supply chains, and by sharing best practices and lessons learned on industrial, buildings and heat decarbonisation, energy efficiency and net zero policies and strategies.
It also includes the UK-Germany hydrogen partnership signed back in September. This “Joint Declaration of Intent” saw both countries striving to work together to underpin the international trade in hydrogen while accelerating the role low carbon hydrogen plays in their own respective energy mixes.
Through the agreement, five pillars of collaboration were agreed, including accelerating the deployment of hydrogen projects for industry and consumers; establishing international leadership on hydrogen markets, setting safety and regulations to aid trade; and research and innovation on hydrogen, from production through to end use. The others are promoting trade for hydrogen, as well as related goods, technologies and services, and joint market analysis in a bid to support planning and investment.
