Lower Saxony – Scotland Strategic Energy Partnership
The Idea
The Lower Saxony – Scotland Strategic Energy Partnership is a forward-looking collaboration designed to deepen ties between both regions in the energy sector with a strong focus on energy transition and sustainability. Building on first academic ties being established during the Lower Saxony – Scotland Joint Forum in 2022, the partnership evolved in 2023 with the release of a white paper titled “Energizing Democratic Partnerships: Securing Electricity from Democratic Friends”. The paper set the vision for a structured strategic energy partnership between both regions involving not only academia, but also industry and politics.
Central to the partnership are collaborative explorations of renewable energy systems – especially green hydrogen and wind energy – and a shared ambition to harness each region’s strengths: Scotland’s vast on- and offshore wind potential (roughly 25 % of Europe’s capacity) and Lower Saxony’s position as Germany’s premier hydrogen and renewables state. This collaboration has been reinforced through high-level delegation visits, roundtable events and online discussions, for instance, featuring Scotland’s Minister for Energy and Lower Saxony’s Economic Affairs Minister in June 2024.
Together, these mechanisms – panel discussions, white papers, ministerial dialogues, and now also co-funded funding streams (see here) – form the backbone of the Lower Saxony – Scotland Strategic Energy Partnership. Their aim: to accelerate the transition to climate-neutral energy systems through mutual knowledge exchange and cooperation, technological innovation as well as policy alignment.
The partnership is led by the Energy Research Centre of Lower Saxony (efzn), the Scottish Energy Technology Partnership (ETP), which has just merged with the Scottish Research Partnership in Engineering (SRPe) to form SPEERI: the Scottish Partnership in Energy and Engineering Research & Innovation (SPEERI). It is further support by partners such as Scotland Beyond Net Zero and ForWind in Lower Saxony.
“The energy transition must be a joint effort – across countries, industries, and communities. Only together can we build a secure, sustainable, and affordable energy future for Europe.”
Milestones
2022 Joint Forum
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During a dynamic panel discussion on “Renewable Energies and Sustainability”, academics and industry experts came together to develop initial ideas around key challenges facing both Lower Saxony and Scotland – challenges that may be more effectively addressed through close collaboration. More information on the panel topic as well as speakers may be found here.
2023 White Paper
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The outcomes of the Joint Forum 2022 were captured in a joint white paper, Energizing Democratic Partnerships – Securing Electricity from Democratic Friends. In the months following the forum, partners from Lower Saxony and Scotland worked closely together to develop this document, which offers initial impetus for the strategic energy partnership. It highlights the importance of international cooperation in advancing net-zero goals and creating synergies by aligning complementary strengths and addressing shared challenges in the energy transition.
2024 Joint Forum
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As a natural progression from the previous activities, an interdisciplinary panel of experts from Lower Saxony and Scotland explored the energy transition through the lenses of engineering, law, economic policy, social sciences, and sector integration during the Joint Forum 2024. By bringing together diverse perspectives, the discussion highlighted the social, economic, and environmental implications of the shift to renewable energy. This approach is essential for developing effective, forward-looking strategies and deepening collaboration between key actors in both regions.
2025 Online H2-Research Market Place
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The 2025 Online H₂-Research Market Place is a digital academic matching event format to connect researchers from Lower Saxony and Scotland working in the field of hydrogen. Designed to foster cross border collaboration, the event offers participants the opportunity to present research interests, identify complementary expertise, and initiate joint projects that contribute to advancing hydrogen technologies and a sustainable energy future.
