Blog3 August 2023

Scotland and Brittany: collabo­ration on green energy

Cooperation agreement with the French region of Brittany aims to strengthen Scotland’s position as a leader in Europe’s offshore renewables industry.

Scotland and Brittany: collaboration on green energy
© Global Village Space

Cooperation agreement with the French region of Brittany
strengthenING Scotland’s position as a leader in Europe’s offshore renewables industry

The Scottish Government has signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Brittany, the first of its kind for Scotland with a region in France. What does this mean for the cooperation between Scotland and Brittany?

The cooperation agreement between Scotland and Brittany is a significant step towards strengthening Scotland’s position in Europe’s offshore renewables industry. By sharing best practices and collaborating on various topics, Scottish companies will have the opportunity to expand their offshore wind projects off the coast of Brittany. Additionally, the cultural and historical bonds established through the Rennes Declaration will further enhance cooperation between Scotland, Brittany, and other Celtic partners. This collaboration not only benefits the economies of both regions but also contributes to the global efforts towards cleaner and greener energy sources.

Deputy First Minister Shona Robison said: “Scotland’s rich renewables endowment means we can not only generate enough cheap green electricity to power Scotland’s economy, but can also export electricity to our neighbours, supporting jobs here in Scotland and the decarbonisation ambitions of our partners. We are keen to maximise opportunities for Scottish companies to learn from our Celtic partners as we look towards a future with cleaner, greener energy.”

And what does this mean for SCHOTTEL Marine Technologies?

“We applaud the steps being taken by the Scottish Government and Brittany’s regional government to establish closer economic and cultural ties. With the help of Scottish Development International, we have established good links within Brittany following a series of joint initiatives including our attendance at the Bretagne Ocean Power event in Rennes earlier this year, where the quality of engagement and depth of interest in our anchoring solutions and potential collaboration were evident. Today’s agreement between the two governments gives us further encouragement to our business efforts in Brittany”, explains Michael Hook, Business Development Director at SCHOTTEL Marine Technologies.

Separately, the Scottish Government signed the Rennes Declaration, which will build on existing cultural, historical and linguistic bonds with Brittany, Ireland, Wales and the Spanish Region of Galicia. The Forum will also be an opportunity to discuss collaboration with other partners such as Cornwall and the Spanish Region of Asturias.