Grant Shapps Champions UK-Korea Green Energy Boom in Seoul
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps is flying the flag for UK plc in Seoul, spotlighting strong UK-Korea ties in offshore wind. UK firms hold a whopping 60% of Korean offshore wind engineering contracts. Meanwhile, Korea is pumping cash into UK offshore wind projects, cementing a renewable partnership.
Solid Stance on Putin and Energy Independence
Shapps slammed Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, urging Korea to ditch Russian gas and push for energy independence. He declared, “Russia’s gas – just like the president himself – belongs in the past.” The minister called for tighter UK-Korea collaboration on renewables to undercut Putin’s energy weaponisation.
Historic Visit Ahead of G7 and CPTPP
Shapps’ Seoul stop kicks off a major Asia trip including Japan ahead of the Sapporo G7 summit. He’s the first UK cabinet minister to visit since sealing the UK’s entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), where Japan is a key player.
UK Pushes Korea to Phase Out Coal by 2030
Big ambitions were made public: Shapps urged Korea to join the 168-strong Powering Past Coal Alliance and bring forward its coal exit from 2050 to 2030. Britain plans to help with its offshore wind expertise, backing a cleaner, greener future.
Three-Decade Nuclear Power Alliance Gets a Boost
Shapps and Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, Dr Lee Chang-Yang, signed a joint statement to ramp up cooperation on civil nuclear power. The deal focuses on ensuring top nuclear safety standards, building resilient supply chains, and advancing cutting-edge tech like small modular reactors.
Investment Opportunities and Green Jobs Galore
The minister highlighted SeAH Wind’s £512m investment in a Teesside factory producing offshore wind turbine foundations—partially funded by the Government’s Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme. This follows over 30 years of nuclear collaboration under their 1991 Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.
- Accelerate civil nuclear power plans to secure affordable energy.
- Set global standards for nuclear safety, regulation, and non-proliferation.
- Develop robust nuclear supply chains and advanced technologies.
- Commit jointly to phase out coal and expand renewable energy.
Powering Up Britain Plan Drives Green Energy Surge
Shapps’ visit aligns with the UK government’s £billions-backed Powering Up Britain initiative, aimed at boosting renewables, creating green jobs, and sealing global energy deals. The plan includes launching Great British Nuclear to deliver 25% of the UK’s power from nuclear by 2050.
Offshore Wind Power Targets Set High
Korea targets 12GW of offshore wind by 2030, already developing over 25 projects. UK firms dominate this with 60% of engineering contracts. Britain itself has 14GW installed but aims to hit 50GW by 2030 — a massive threefold leap.
Grant Shapps said: “Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine has held up a mirror to the world, reflecting back just how vulnerable our energy security can be. As we edge closer towards the tipping point when holding onto coal and gas power no longer makes economic sense, let alone environmental sense, there is ever-greater opportunity for British and Korean companies to work together for the benefit of both countries and our communities.”
“I want the Republic of Korea to work ever closer with us in the UK, making the most of world-leading British expertise to move further and faster towards greater use of renewables, of opportunities in the UK to invest, and to redouble our efforts against Putin’s weaponising of our global energy sources.”
