Two public bodies have joined forces in a landmark move to speed up the UK’s transition to clean energy.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Great British Energy (GBE) signed a formal partnership agreement in Inverness on 31 July, pledging to work together to harness the region’s renewable potential and deliver meaningful benefits to local communities.
The agreement sets out a shared commitment to identify opportunities for clean energy generation, energy storage, supply chain growth and community‑owned energy initiatives.
Both organisations will explore investment possibilities in the Highlands and Islands and draw on HIE’s network of developers and projects to unlock further funding.
Knowledge and expertise will be shared to ensure that lessons from the Highlands can help drive renewable development across the rest of the UK.
Stuart Black, chief executive of HIE, spoke of the Highlands’ leadership in renewable energy over the last two decades.
“The Highlands and Islands have been at the forefront of Britain’s renewable energy development for more than 20 years,” he said.
“Our abundance of natural resources and our growing expertise in offshore wind, hydro power, and wave and tidal energy make this region vital not just for Scotland but internationally.”
Mr Black said the new agreement with GBE would set clear parameters for collaboration, helping accelerate shared goals.
“It makes perfect sense to formalise our working relationship,” he said.
“By aligning our priorities, we can maximise opportunities, strengthen local supply chains and ensure the clean energy transition delivers benefits for communities as well as the climate.”
Juergen Maier, chair of Great British Energy, said the partnership would build on the momentum already underway in the region.
“Great British Energy is committed to working with Highlands and Islands Enterprise to accelerate the excellent work already happening here,” he said.
“There are huge opportunities to further develop supply chains to support the growing offshore wind industry.
“The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport in particular has the potential to create thousands of jobs, and Great British Energy wants to champion those efforts.”
The partnership was announced during a GBE visit to the Highlands, which included tours of the ports at Ardersier, Cromarty Firth and Nigg, as well as the site of the new Sumitomo cable factory.
Delegates also met with local businesses and developers leading offshore wind, pumped hydro storage and tidal energy projects.
The agreement marks a new phase of collaboration between regional and national energy leaders, with the shared goal of making the Highlands a driving force in the UK’s clean energy future.
