Notice

Energy transition: UK - Netherlands memorandum of understanding

Published 15 July 2025

The Minister of Climate Policy and Green Growth of the Netherlands and the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (hereinafter referred to individually as a “Participant” and collectively as the “Participants”).

As North Sea neighbours, sharing historic ties of friendship, recalling the joint statement on foreign, development and security bilateral cooperation between the Participants of 16 November 2022.

Acknowledging the energy transition as a cornerstone of achieving net zero and climate neutrality, and the common interests of the Participants to work on the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the global energy targets on renewable energy and energy efficiency agreed on during COP28.

Recalling the commitment from both Participants to contribute to the global efforts identified at the first Global Stocktake at COP28.

Acknowledging the Participants’ common objectives of leading the global transition to clean energy through the development of reliable, affordable and sustainable energy sources, and the need to drive deployment of key technologies and maximise cross-sector opportunities.

Recognising and fully respecting the obligations and commitments of the agreements between the EU and the United Kingdom.

Recognising the cooperation between the participants of the North Seas Energy Cooperation and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on offshore renewable energy in the North Seas as expressed in the Memorandum of Understanding of 18 December 2022.

Considering the importance of robust cross-border market arrangements, as set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, particularly with regard to hybrid interconnection, to realise the potential benefits of these assets including efficiently integrating electricity from renewable sources, delivering low carbon energy, and supporting system security at the lowest cost for consumers.

Recognising the cooperation between the Participants on the transmission of natural gas via pipeline, as expressed in the bilateral Agreement of 21 March 2005.

Considering the benefits of a coordinated approach in the delivery of offshore infrastructure in the North Seas and the importance of wider regional cooperation in the North Seas to facilitate this.

Recognising the benefits of knowledge exchange and cooperation to accelerate the delivery of offshore renewable generation and offshore hybrid assets and their efficient use, hydrogen, and CCUS, including the deployment of CO2 storage sites for emissions from carbon capture facilities and the importance of wider regional cooperation to facilitate this.

Recognising the common goals of the Participants to achieve and maintain energy security through diverse and sustainable energy sources, while maintaining environmental protection and the economic well-being of local communities.

Recalling the landmark commitment signed by the Participants and 23 other countries at COP28 with the goal of tripling nuclear energy capacity globally by 2050 and reaffirming the key role that civil nuclear energy could play in achieving a more sustainable, secure and carbon-neutral energy mix.

Noting the fundamental role of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (“NPT”) signed at Washington, London, and Moscow on 1 July 1968 in the development of peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Committing to uphold the highest standards of safety, security, safeguards and non-proliferation and export controls in international and multilateral cooperation to ensure new nuclear technologies are deployed safely and securely.

Recognising the potential for cooperation between the Participants with regard to heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency, and the ambition to build on this in the context of the Participants’ commitments to net zero and climate neutrality.

Bearing in mind that this Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) is intended to provide a general framework for cooperation on matters of bilateral importance and to express the cooperative intent of the Participants.

Have come to the following arrangement:

Purpose

The purpose of this MoU is to establish a framework for mutually beneficial cooperation between the Participants in the areas of global clean energy transition and energy security.

This objective of this encompassing cooperation is above all, within the competences of each Participant, to help improve security of supply of each Participant and discuss strategies for diversifying energy sources, exchange on practices that help address socio-economic concerns connected to energy costs, support decarbonisation efforts, contribute to national targets and ambitions for renewable energy and facilitate energy system integration of wind power and the development of hydrogen, civil nuclear, and other innovative technologies.

Areas of Cooperation

The following topics have been identified as priority areas for cooperation between the Participants under the framework of this MoU, with crosscutting themes of energy security and resilience, innovation, and cooperation with stakeholders, and cooperation in international fora across these. The list is not exhaustive:

a. Offshore Wind

Bilateral efforts to promote the development and deployment of offshore wind energy, including knowledge exchange on technology, and bilateral domestic issues regarding spatial planning, supply chain, infrastructure, nature and environment, and national regulatory frameworks to maximise the potential of offshore wind resources. In addition to current, ongoing cooperation on fixed bottom offshore wind energy, bilateral efforts amongst relevant parties aim also to be focused on floating offshore wind energy.

b. Electricity Interconnectors

Exploration of existing and future challenges and opportunities for the development of bilateral electricity interconnectors, including offshore hybrid assets, between Participants in the North Sea.

c. Energy Security and gas interconnection

Cooperation to monitor the economic viability and effective operability of the existing interconnectors of natural gas, in addition to the existing Agreement between the Participants relating to the transmission of natural gas through the BBL-interconnector, and to ensure continued security of supply for both Participants. This entails cooperation on the cross-border gas quality between both Participants and consultation of relevant international and national regulatory and policy developments, excluding regulatory and policy developments in the European Union.

d. Hydrogen

To facilitate decarbonisation in various sectors, promotion of the development and deployment of low carbon hydrogen technologies. Knowledge exchange(s) on infrastructure, including cross-border transport, wider sector development, as well as policies and regulations including standards and certification. Cooperation on shared challenges, as well as cooperation through international fora.

e. Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (“CCUS”)

Collaboration and cooperation on the development and deployment of CCUS, for example on regulatory and technical developments, knowledge sharing, and the cross-border transport and storage of CO2.

f. Civil Nuclear

Knowledge and information-sharing on policy development regarding the deployment of large-scale gigawatt and Advanced Nuclear Technologies, including Small Modular Reactors. Exchange of best practices and experiences on enabling policies, such as supply chain development, knowledge infrastructure, financing structures, project development and project site selection.

Collaboration on wider enabling policies including the streamlining and facilitating of licensing processes where possible, physical and environmental protection, decommissioning and managing of radioactive waste (including the geological repository), skills and workforce development in construction, operation and lifetime extension, and R&D in production and application of medical radionuclides.

Knowledge and information exchange on enhancing the perception and engagement of the general public with involvement of the private sector.

Continued close cooperation to optimise secure, diversified fuel supply for new and existing nuclear reactors, including enhancing domestic nuclear fuel capabilities across both countries.

Noting the Participants’ shared ownership and strategic investment in URENCO, Participants seek to cooperate in support of this strategic asset, recognising its important role in providing a reliable source of fuel, facilitating the global fuel supply chain and supporting other nuclear nations in diversifying their supply. The Participants highlight their shared ambitions to develop advanced nuclear fuel capabilities in HALEU, recognising that URENCO’s construction of an advanced fuel facility is key in reinvigorating domestic supply chains across both countries and fuelling advanced nuclear reactors globally.

g. Heat Networks and Decarbonising Heat

Collaboration in heat decarbonisation, including the exchange of best practices in the rollout of clean technologies such as heat pumps and natural heat sources, and in regulatory approaches to enhance energy efficiency and reduce emissions in both existing and new buildings. Exchange of knowledge in the field of grid congestion and flexible appliances.

h. Additional areas

Additional areas of cooperation as the Participants may jointly decide upon in writing, taking into account respective legal obligations.

Forms of Cooperation

The Participants plan to encourage cooperation between policy makers and technical experts from the Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth and the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and their implementing agencies. For the topic Civil Nuclear, cooperation includes experts from the Dutch Ministries of Health, Welfare and Sports (in their responsibility for policies on production and application of medical isotopes) and Infrastructure and Water Management (in their responsibility for policies on nuclear safety, radiation protection and radioactive waste), as well as experts from both regulators in line with the MoU between ONR and ANVS. Since the areas range widely in content, and significant steps have already been taken in some areas, the structure and approach should be customised from topic to topic. The forms of cooperation under this MoU on cooperation in the energy transition may include the following forms of cooperation:

a. Regular exchange of technical information, domestic policy developments, and best practices in the identified areas of cooperation. Exchange visits by experts and delegations.

b. Jointly organised workshops, seminars, and other forums involving stakeholders, industry and other relevant agencies to share knowledge, discuss challenges, and identify opportunities for collaboration, drawing on existing fora and industry links where relevant;

c. Bilateral exchange of best practices on climate and energy and energy security issues in pursuing common climate and energy goals;

d. Where relevant, establishment of joint working groups to focus on specific areas of cooperation, develop detailed action plans, and monitor progress towards the objectives of this MoU;

e. Collaboration on research, development projects and/or exchange of information to advance technologies and solutions in the areas of energy security, offshore wind, electricity interconnection, hydrogen, CCUS, civil nuclear, and heat decarbonisation;

f. Encouragement of system operators and industry bodies to cooperate closely, including through provision of technical information regarding system operation and network development;

g. Exchanging information on:

i. The respective hydrogen strategies of the Participants and exploring the scope to collaborate on facilitating the trade of hydrogen, and supporting the mutual development of the Participants’ respective hydrogen economies;
ii. The respective CCUS strategies of the Participants and exploring the scope to collaborate on CCUS development, deployment, transport, and storage;
iii. Challenges and opportunities in existing and future national regulatory, commercial and policy frameworks for offshore hybrid assets, cost allocation, and grid planning related to ongoing or planned offshore/ hybrid projects;
iv. The respective civil nuclear strategies of the Participants and exploring the scope to collaborate on actively supporting voluntary cooperation between the private sectors of both Participants;

h. Other forms of cooperation as may be determined jointly by the Participants.

Designated Authorities

The designated authorities responsible for the implementation of this MoU are the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on behalf of the United Kingdom and the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth on behalf of the Netherlands. Each Participant intends to designate a primary point of contact to coordinate the overall cooperation.

Both Participants commit to facilitate the involvement of government institutions, industry, regulators, transmission system operators, research institutions and other agencies to establish cooperation activities aimed at fulfilling the objectives of this MoU. The Participants intend to communicate and cooperate fully with the aim to ensure that the MoU’s objectives and outcomes are successfully achieved.

Implementation

A Joint Working Group(s) comprising representatives of each Participant is to be convened on a regular basis to oversee the implementation of this MoU, identify collaboration opportunities, share information, and review progress. The Working Group(s) intends to meet regularly and as required.

The respective Director Generals of the Ministry of Green Growth and Climate Policy of the Netherlands and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom intend to meet, at least every 2 years, to assess the progress on the areas identified for closer cooperation and to assess general follow-up action to this MoU. Preferably, they are to meet in the margin of an event they both already attend to limit their travel-related CO2-emissions. In preparation of this meeting, the progress on the different areas of cooperation under this MoU is assessed.

The respective Ministers of the Ministries intend to meet periodically to discuss the progress made on achieving the priorities set out above. Preferably, they are to meet in the margin of an event they both already attend to limit their travel-related CO2-emissions. In preparation of this meeting, the progress on the different areas of cooperation under this MoU is assessed.

Confidentiality of information

Each Participant is not to use or disclose any data or other information exchanged on the basis of this MoU except for the purpose(s) for which they were provided and in accordance with the laws and regulations that apply to each Participant in its respective territory. Except as required by those laws and regulations, such data and information, including the results of any joint research, is not to be disclosed to any third party without the prior written consent of the Participant who provided the data or information. The Participants endeavour to abide by this Paragraph even after the expiration of this MoU.

Funding

This MoU does not involve or envisage the transfer of financial resources between the Participants.

The Participants accept that all costs arising from the cooperation activities under this MoU should be assumed by the Participant who incurs them, unless otherwise determined jointly by the Participants in writing.

Each Participant intends to conduct the activities provided in this MoU subject to all applicable laws, regulations and governmental processes in its territory, including processes applicable to budgetary assignment, resource availability and deployment of personnel. The Participants intend to establish jointly, in writing, the details for the financing of each particular cooperation activity before commencing such activity.

Amendment, Dispute Resolution and Termination

The Participants intend to keep the functioning of this MoU under review and may amend it by mutual written consent at any time. Amendments come into effect upon joint approval by the Participants in writing.

Any dispute about the interpretation or implementation of this MoU is to be resolved amicably through mutual consultations between the Participants and may not be referred to any national or international tribunal or third party settlement.

Either Participant may terminate this MoU by means of 3 months’ written notice to the other Participant. In the event of termination under this paragraph, the Participants will seek to finalise the activities already under implementation.

General Provisions

This MoU constitutes an expression of the Participants’ good faith to engage in the cooperation described herein. The Participants acknowledge that this MoU is not an international agreement, it does not create any legally binding obligations and does not prevail over the rights and obligations stemming from international agreements to which one or both of the Participants are a party, including those rights and obligations of the Netherlands deriving from its membership of the European Union.

Final Provisions

The activities under this Memorandum of Understanding come into effect on the signature date and are to be jointly reviewed upon written request of one of the Participants. This Memorandum of Understanding will continue to be the basis of cooperation until 31 March 2027 and may be extended for a further period of time if jointly decided by mutual written consent of the Participants.

Signed in London on 15 July 2025 in two (2) original copies each in the English language.

Sophie Hermans
Minister of Climate Policy and Green Growth, Deputy Prime Minister
For the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth of the Netherlands

Ed Miliband
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
For the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom