AS THE UK Government announces a new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), calls have been made for it to be headquartered in Europe’s Energy Capital.
The Department has been tasked with securing the UK’s long-term energy security and seizing the opportunities of net zero.
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Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce said that bringing hundreds of energy-focused civil servant jobs to the North East would be a “no-brainer in terms of creating a winning relationship between industry and government”.
It would mean DESNZ would sit alongside other key institutions such as the North Sea Transition Authority, Net Zero Technology Centre, the two universities at the forefront of driving research and technology to achieve net zero, and 45,000-strong offshore energy sector workforce.
The proximity to industry would deliver greater accountability and scrutiny to ensure a just transition and more collaboration and innovation between public and private sector to unlock jobs.
Furthermore, AGCC has said it would be a vote of confidence in the future prosperity of the region.
Commenting, Russell Borthwick, chief executive of AGCC said: “Energy security has become the defining issue of the past year — as the fragility of global supply has come into sharp focus, and consumers and businesses have been hit by sharply rising costs.
“It’s encouraging to see a designated department within the UK government, laser focused on addressing this challenge and seizing the opportunities of net zero.
“Governments at Westminster and Holyrood receive justified criticism for being over-centralised. Meanwhile it is the North East alone which can deliver at scale the renewables revolution underway in our energy sector.
“Bringing the headquarters of the new Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to Aberdeen would bring hundreds of jobs to our city, deliver a huge vote of confidence in our region and is no-brainer in terms of creating a winning relationship between industry and government”.
