Notice

Memorandum of understanding between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea concerning cooperation on offshore wind energy

Published 23 November 2023

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (“UK”) and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea (“ROK”) (hereinafter referred to individually as “Participant” and collectively as the “Participants”);

On the basis of traditional friendship between their people and the strong ties between the two countries;

Acknowledging the role that offshore wind can play in ensuring energy security and combatting climate change;

Supporting both the UK and ROK to achieve respective 2030 deployment ambitions, energy security and underpinning economic growth;

Have reached the following understanding:

Paragraph 1 – Purpose

Cooperation between the Participants under this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be based on the principles of mutual benefit and reciprocity. 

Cooperation will be guided by the respective governments in partnership with businesses and other enterprises. This cooperation acknowledges the UK and ROK’s vibrant bilateral relations and mutual interests in energy security, net zero and economic growth through low carbon technologies. The UK and ROK already have a proven relationship in offshore wind, with large-scale investments in the UK’s supply chain and in the development of ROK’s offshore wind sector.

This MoU emphasises the will to build on this existing cooperation to accelerate deployment, address barriers to trade and encourage mutual economic development through regular government-to-government dialogue and business-to-business cooperation, underpinned by the aim to harness the potential of our respective offshore wind sectors.

Paragraph 2 – Areas of Cooperation

The Participants will support the UK and ROK’s offshore wind deployment by sharing experience and expertise from our respective sectors, thereby enabling policy development and collaboration in:

• Exchange of policy, experiences and best practices between Participants’ governments;
• The exchanges of experts and scholars between Participants’ R&D institutions;
• International cooperation promotion;
• Industry-led cooperation on supply chain and joint technical development between the Participants’ private companies;
• Other areas jointly agreed between the Participants through the Annual Dialogue and in writing;

The Participants will engage their respective energy regulators to further promote sharing of experience and expertise where appropriate, noting both bilateral and multilateral opportunities for collaboration (such as the Regulatory Energy Transition Accelerator).

In addition, participants accept to promote business activities and facilitate opportunities for UK and ROK companies to collaborate in ROK and the UK, as well as joint offshore wind projects in third countries.

Paragraph 3 – Implementation

The principal mechanism for engagement will be through an annual UK-ROK, government to government offshore wind energy dialogue which will be held alternately in the two countries. This will be led by the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and ROK’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and chaired at the level of UK Director and ROK Director General.

The Participants will encourage the involvement of UK and ROK businesses in the dialogue as appropriate. The dates of the annual dialogue and the discussion topics are to be jointly decided upon between the Participants in advance.

Paragraph 4 – Resolution of Differences

Any differences that may arise between the Participants relating to the interpretation or implementation of this MoU will be resolved amicably through consultation between the Participants and will not be referred to any third party for resolution.

Paragraph 5 – Confidential Information

Each Participant is to treat as confidential, to the extent permitted under its national law, information provided by the other Participant in connection with cooperation under this MOU with a request for confidential treatment of that information.

Paragraph 6 – Final Provisions

a. This MoU will come into effect on signature and remain in effect unless terminated by mutual written consent of the participants or by either participant providing six months notice of termination to the other participant.

b. Either Participant may propose an amendment to this MOU by means of a written notice to the other Participant; any such amendment will be effected by mutual written consent between the participants.

c. All costs resulting from cooperation under this MoU are to be borne by the Participant that incurs them, unless otherwise mutually agreed by participants in writing.

d. The Participants acknowledge that this MOU is not an international agreement and does not create any legally binding obligations under domestic or international law.

Signed in London on 22nd November 2023 in two (2) original copies, each in the English language.

For the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Secretary of State Claire Coutinho
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

For the Government of the Republic of Korea
Minister Bang, Moon-Kyu
Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy