On Wednesday 19 April, the British Minister for Energy, Greg Clark, addressed the British Parliament’s enterprise, energy and industry committee. The minister called for the United Kingdom to stay in the EU internal energy market after it leaves the European Union. He provided assurances that London wanted to obtain the best possible deal in the Brexit negotiations in the energy field.
In a report by Reuters, Mr Clark explained, “It is very much in our interest to continue to participate in the energy market and expand those interconnections, especially in Ireland” and added, “I think it would be better if we continue (in it) and a bad thing if that were to be disrupted".
Britain imported 6 percent of its electricity via power links with France, the Netherlands and Ireland in 2016, but is seeking ways to increase its power sources to help to replace ageing coal and nuclear plants set to close in the 2020s.
Clark emphasised that discussions with the EU were only just about to start but that he hopes plans for interconnectors with other EU and non-EU countries would continue and be extended. "Our ambition is to go more into interconnection. If we want to have a smarter grid and bring on lots of different types of sources of power, interconnection is important for that," he said.
Several new electricity interconnectors with European countries are in development. If built, they could satisfy about 20% of Britain’s peak electricity demand by the early 2020s.
The UK climate change minister Nick Hurd also told the committee on Wednesday that Britain would continue to play an active role in reforming the European carbon emissions trading scheme, the ETS.
Mr Hurd said, "There are good reasons why we are in it, but I think the discipline of the Brexit process is that, as a government, we have the responsibility to look at the options," he said, adding that the government is analysing alternatives to the scheme. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)