North Sea offshore wind from the UK could be connected directly to the continent in order to boost renewable energy trade between the EU and Brussels.
Photo: Aitoff / Pixabay
Giant power cables could run under the English Channel and be connected directly to the EU's power grid, according to National Grid, the UK's privately-owned utility service in order to offer an olive branch for trade following Brexit.
Read more: France and Britain to cooperate for continental power line
The UK has set itself a target of 2050 for complete carbon-neutrality and shifting towards more renewable sources has become part of this mission.
Prime minister Boris Johnson has pledged to power all UK homes using offshore wind by 2030.
The UK currently operates the world's largest offshore wind capacity, and there have been murmurings of this being quadrupled within the same time frame. This total would mean the UK operates 40GW in offshore wind by 2030.
Large undersea power cables - known as interconnectors - are already in place to both import and export energy between parties and National Grid hopes this could help it capitalise on the shift towards greener energy.
The company has admitted it has signed an agreement with Dutch counterpart TenneT to explore the option of connecting offshore wind farms to interconnectors, which would allow energy to be transported onto the European mainland.
The UK already exports surplus energy when supply outstrips demand.
The UK left the EU's internal energy market on December 31, when it formally withdrew from the bloc.
In an interview with the FT, John Pettigrew, CEO of National Grid said co-operation between the EU and UK continues to be strong, despite the UK no longer operating as part of the internal energy market.
He added: “If you don’t need the offshore wind in the UK it could be directed to Europe and vice versa so from a trading perspective it might be a more efficient way of optimising renewable energy across Europe."
However, continued strain over the Brexit trade deal regarding areas such as fishing could hamper trade relations between the two parties.
The UK has also begun to explore other, greener ways of generating energy as a number of industrial sectors look to decarbonise their businesses.
The government is scanning for the perfect location to set up its first nuclear fusion site, which comes as part of a competition between local communities set up by the UK Atomic Agency.
Read more: Cumbria's Moorside narrowed down for UK's first nuclear fusion site
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also announced his intention to ban the sale of fully-petrol and electric vehicles by 2030, something which has received support from various automakers and other European nations.
This comes as many companies in the travel and automotive sectors are looking to use the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to make the energy transition and switch their brands to be fully-electric.
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