UK energy secretary Ed Miliband MP will visit Aberdeen with Great British Energy chair Juergen Maier for the first time since the city was announced as the headquarters for the UK’s new publicly-owned energy company.

Following the visit, the governments will sign a new agreement that will see Great British Energy develop partnerships with Scottish public bodies in the clean energy sector - including Crown Estate Scotland, the Enterprise Agencies and the Scottish National Investment Bank to deliver quickly and effectively, avoid duplication, and deliver maximum impact and value for money from Scottish projects. 

Great British Energy has £8.3 billion of funding over this Parliament, and work is underway with the energy industry in Scotland to use this for public investment to create new private sector jobs and drive projects in Scotland.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband said: “Scottish energy workers will power the United Kingdom’s clean energy future- including in carbon capture and storage, in hydrogen, in wind, and with oil and gas for decades to come as part of a fair transition in the North Sea.

“Unlike in the past, we’re also working closely with the Scottish Government with a new agreement to ensure our publicly owned company Great British Energy is primed to accelerate clean energy investment in Scotland.”

Plans to speed up the delivery of a ‘skills passport’ to support oil and gas workers to move into the offshore wind sector have also been announced, with a digital tool for offshore energy workers set to be piloted by January 2025.

Acting cabinet secretary for net zero and energy Gillian Martin said: “I welcome this collaborative agreement committing Great British Energy to work with our public bodies to maximise investment into Scotland. Scotland already has a strong pipeline of clean energy and supply chain opportunities, is at the forefront of floating offshore wind development, and has a depth of knowledge and experience on community and local energy. We look forward to working with Great British Energy to ensure it delivers real benefits for the people of Scotland and a just energy transition.

“To make sure that no offshore energy workers are left behind, the Scottish Government provided initial funding of £3.7 million between 2022 - 2024 for the development of the industry-led Skills Passport.”

Great British Energy chair Juergen Maier said: “The clean energy transition is a huge opportunity for Scotland, which is already at the cutting edge of technology like floating offshore wind, and Great British Energy is well positioned to help accelerate the development of key supply chains and infrastructure.

“By working closely with the Scottish Government, alongside The Crown Estate in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we can help to drive forward investment and create jobs across the country.”

Responding to the announcement, Emma Harrick, head of energy transition and supply chain at Scottish Renewables, said: “Scottish Renewables has continually advocated the need for the Scottish and UK Governments to work collaboratively with industry to unlock the enormous social and economic benefits of our renewable energy resources.

“We welcome this new partnership between GB Energy and the Scottish Government which will help ensure Scotland’s renewable energy supply chain benefits from the deployment of clean energy projects like floating offshore windfarms.

“Suppliers in Scotland have a wealth of skills and capabilities which span decades of expertise, including offshore inspection, port services, steel fabrication and civil engineering. It is vital that we support these companies grasp the green opportunities of the future.

“The continued growth of our offshore wind sector and its supply chain will be particularly important in securing a successful just transition for our offshore workforce. Central to that effort will be the Skills Passport which will establish the smooth pathways we want to create for clean energy careers.

“Scotland’s renewable energy industry looks forward to continued collaboration focused on tackling barriers to project delivery, growing supply chains, developing skills and attracting inward investment.”