Nine European countries sign up to North Sea supergrid

Nine European countries have signed up to a plan to develop an offshore grid in the North and Irish Seas to transmit energy generated by offshore wind farms to land.

Ministers from the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden and Ireland agreed at a meeting in Brussels yesterday to start by developing a strategic work plan for the

‘The North Seas Countries’ Offshore Grid Initiative’ early next year. The plan will be ratified by members in a formal Memorandum of Understanding later in the year.

UK Energy and Climate Change Minister Lord Hunt said the agreement was important to realising the carbon emission cuts being discussed in Copenhagen.

He also announced £5 million in funding for wind power research and development at Vestas, Clipper and Mitsubishi. Vestas will receive £1.75 million from the Government and a further £1.75 Million from the South East England Development Agency to support its Isle of Wight R & D facility. Clipper will receive £2.5 million and Mitsubishi £0.81 million.

“We’re already the world leader in offshore wind here in the UK and [these] announcements bring new funding and expert direction to grow this vital new industry,” he said.

For further information:
www.decc.gov.uk
www.vestas.com/
www.clipperwind.com/index.html
www.mhi.co.jp/en/index.html

08 December 2009

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