Press release
Minister Ryan holds first in-person meeting with UK’s Energy Secretary Ed Miliband
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, today met with Ed Miliband – the UK's Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero – during a short visit to the UK. The meeting is their first in-person engagement since Energy Secretary Miliband's appointment as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on 5 July 2024, following the formation of a new Labour government in the UK.
The meeting also marks one year since both countries signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation agreements. The first MoU, signed in September 2023, relates to renewables energy, including interconnection and hydrogen. The second focuses on enhanced security of gas supplies.
Minister Ryan and Energy Secretary Miliband discussed a range of areas, including: COP 29 ambitions; cooperation in the field of clean renewable energy (including hydrogen, onshore and offshore energy); possible further electrical interconnection between the island of Ireland and Great Britain; grid connections; and engagement within the North Seas Energy Cooperation.
Ireland’s policy statement on interconnection , published last year, specifically includes supporting a further connection to Great Britain by 2030, beyond the completion of the Greenlink interconnector (due for completion in 2025). The role of interconnection will increase in importance as the renewable energy sector becomes a larger proportion of supply in the Irish and European electricity system, both in relation to the import and export of electricity. Increased interconnectivity is needed to enable our renewable energy ambitions and improve collective security of supply.
Last week, Britain's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Taoiseach Simon Harris in Dublin, with both leaders announcing terms for a new annual summit between both countries beginning next March, to reset Ireland-UK relations. As well as focusing on areas such as growth, trade and investment, and global issues, next year's summit will also include discussion on 'climate, energy technology and innovation'.
Following his appointment in July, Energy Secretary Miliband announced a number of new energy plans, including the immediate action of lifting an onshore wind ban, which had been in place for 9 years, and the establishment of a publicly owned Great British Energy company. Secretary Miliband previously served as the UK's Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change from 2008 to 2010. Minister Ryan is also due to meet with the UK's Secretary of State for Transport, Louise Haigh, tomorrow, 12 September.
Following the meeting, Minister Ryan said:
"One glance at a map shows who Ireland’s most important energy partner is, both in terms of our direct energy relationship and indirectly through the UK’s energy relationship with mainland Europe. Ireland is one of the UK’s most important energy partners. It is vital that we work in collaboration with our closest neighbours when it comes to realising the potential of renewable energy to achieve our climate goals and greater energy security.
"Since the signing of our energy agreement with the UK last year, we have deepened our energy partnerships. Neither country is stopping there. We both have extremely ambitious energy plans, and renewable energy generation and role of interconnection will play a huge part in our shared future, which will deliver cheaper, cleaner and more secure energy to our homes and businesses."
Energy Secretary Miliband said:
“The UK and Ireland have the same goal – greater energy security and clean power for families and businesses, as we work closely together on the clean energy transition. This is how we can keep bills down in the long-term and protect billpayers from unstable fossil fuel markets.
“I look forward to stronger collaboration in the years ahead, from cooperation in the North Sea to the rollout of renewable energy across our countries, to help us deliver on our mission for a more sustainable future."
ENDS
On 11 September 2023, Ireland and the UK signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation. The first MoU – on 'Cooperation in the Energy Transition, Offshore Renewables and Electricity Interconnection' – facilitates increased information sharing between Ireland and the UK on the transition to renewables and deployment of onshore and offshore renewable energy, including renewable and low carbon hydrogen. Importantly, this MoU will also facilitate increased cooperation specifically focused on exploring opportunities for further electrical interconnection between the island of Ireland and Great Britain. The second MoU – on 'Cooperation for Natural Gas Security of Supply' – highlights the increasingly constructive energy relationship between Ireland and the UK. The purpose of this MoU is to strengthen established practices and cooperation between the two States and relevant Departments on the issue of security of natural gas supply. It outlines how the two States will engage together in the event of a reduction or disruption of supply.
Ireland’s interconnection ambitions are well set out in the National Policy Statement on Electricity Interconnection published in 2023.
Electricity interconnection will play a central role in Ireland’s journey to net zero transition. Increased interconnectivity is needed to enable our renewable energy ambitions and improve collective security of supply.
Objectives include:
Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2024 was approved by government in December 2023, subject to public consultation and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Climate Action Plan 2024 is the third annual update to Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2019. This plan is the second to be prepared under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and following the introduction of economy-wide Carbon Budgets and Sectoral Emissions Ceilings. The implementation of the Climate Action Plan will create jobs, new economic opportunities and protect people and the planet. Click here to subscribe to the Government of Ireland's Climate Action newsletter.