NESC’s Recent Engagements with the UK on Energy Future

• 12 July 2024
• Topics: Energy and renewables
• Types: News

Dr Cathal FitzGerald (NESC) and Scotland’s Climate Action Minister Gillian Martin discussed the Council’s research and lessons from Scotland’s experience.

 

• NESC meets with Irish and Scottish Ministers, UK Diplomats, and representatives from the energy industry on the future of energy systems
• These actions form part of the Council’s Energy Research Programme for 2024
• Collaboration is the key to achieving a sustainable energy future

Ireland and the UK should collaborate and share knowledge to help ensure the efficient delivery of clean energy infrastructure, electricity interconnection, and gas supply. This was the high-level message at NESC’s recent engagement with UK representatives.

These engagements are part of an ongoing extensive consultation with key stakeholders in Ireland, focusing on the enterprise opportunities and economic resilience impacts of the move to more sustainable energy.

Most recently, NESC’s Dr Cathal FitzGerald attended gatherings in the British Embassy Dublin, co-hosted by the British Embassy, and the Scottish and Welsh Government Offices in Ireland. “Last year Ireland and the UK agreed two new Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) to increase cooperation”, Dr FitzGerald noted. “Perhaps more importantly, we now have the MoU Working Group meeting to get into the details and work through opportunities and barriers”.

Officials from the UK Department for Business and Trade, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and NI Executive participated alongside departmental representatives from Ireland’s Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce.

The gathering heard from Elin Burns (Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy), Matt Collins (Dept. of Environment, Climate, and Communications), and Sue Harrison (UK’s Dept. of Energy Security and Net Zero).

“From NESC’s perspective, it is important that we better understand the path to achieving the vital national targets for renewable electricity generation. Policy on investment, enterprise and skills can be informed by assessments of enterprise opportunities and economic resilience impacts. Ireland can learn from international examples”, Dr. FitzGerald said.

The gathering came after NESC had participated in last month’s forum on Advancing the Offshore Wind Opportunity: Bridging Irish and Scottish Perspectives. “This was a meeting to explore opportunities for collaboration between Ireland and Scotland to maximise the economic benefit of offshore wind energy to both countries”, Cathal said.

Dr FitzGerald participated in three roundtable discussions with Minister Peter Burke TD, Minister of State Dara Calleary TD, Minister Eamon Ryan TD, and Scotland’s Minister for Climate Action, Gillian Martin MSP, as well as firms and members of the research and academic community.

 

The recent UK-Ireland Energy Network Event in the British Embassy Dublin. Dr Cathal FitzGerald (NESC) met with officials and industry.