Greg Hands, the UK’s energy minister, and Tinne Van der Straeten, Belgium’s energy minister, signed an agreement on energy cooperation.
This memorandum of understanding strengthens the bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and Belgium and allows for closer collaboration on key energy issues such as:
- electricity interconnection with multiple uses,
- the wind from the sea,
- hydrogen with low carbon content,
- Capture, use, and storage of carbon (CCUS).
UK Minister for Energy, Greg Hands said: “I’m pleased to be able to agree today even greater cooperation with our neighbours in Belgium on electricity interconnection. We already have a longstanding energy relationship and this agreement will strengthen our joint energy security and reduce our exposure to global energy prices.”
Belgian Minister of Energy, Tinne Van der Straeten said: “Belgium and the United Kingdom have signed a new cooperation agreement to build a second interconnection. The existing electrical interconnector, Nemo-Link, is one of the best performing interconnections in the world. The new link, which would be connected to the energy island, is a hybrid interconnection.
“This dual function means that power can be exchanged directly between the 2 countries and new wind farms can also be connected to it. Leading is most profitable. This is proven by Belgium’s offshore power production, which is breaking all records this month and is having a downward effect on prices. The new interconnection fits in with the plan to turn the North Sea into one large sustainable energy plant.”
