The UK and Chinese governments have built upon energy efficiency-related trade deals announced last week by forming what they have labelled a clean energy partnership.
The announcement, made by the Department of Energy and Climate Change late on Friday, establishes a “co-operation in research and industry” for clean energy which is expected to “pave the way for effective energy relations between the two countries”.
One particular aim for the partnership is to help generate technologies which will reduce energy bills for households and businesses and companies in the UK are expected to gain extra opportunities to export offerings to China as a result of the agreement.
“It is expected to encourage more investment in clean technologies, which in turn could help to reduce their costs in both countries,” the statement said.
Chinese president Xi Jinping spent last week on a state visit to the UK which coincided with the announcement of several lucrative trade deals, particularly for the energy sector.
While the controversial Hinkley Point C agreement took centre stage, UK building science centre BRE agreed a £200 million built environment science deal with Tshinghua University and property firm Evergrande, while battery technology firm BYD announced a partnership with British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis to build up to 2,000 electric buses over the next decade.
