The United Kingdom and Taiwan have agreed to strengthen cooperation on clean energy, energy security and industrial decarbonisation, launching a new partnership focused on carbon
capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) as both sides seek to advance their net-zero ambitions.
The agreement was announced during the eighth UK-Taiwan Energy Dialogue and the 21st UK-Taiwan Renewable Energy Conference, held in Taipei on 20 October 2026. The events brought together government officials, regulators, researchers and business representatives to discuss shared energy challenges and identify opportunities for closer collaboration.
Organised jointly by the British Office Taipei and Taiwan’s Energy Administration under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Energy Dialogue was opened by Ruth Bradley-Jones, the British representative in Taipei, and Cynthia Kiang, Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs. Discussions were chaired by Simon Payne of the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and Chih-Wei Wu, Director General of Taiwan’s Energy Administration.
The agenda covered three principal areas: energy security, offshore wind development and carbon capture technologies. The launch of the new UK-Taiwan CCUS Partnership, established under the Energy and Net Zero pillar of the Enhanced Trade Partnership, was the principal outcome of the meeting.
Energy security and decarbonisation take centre stage
Opening the dialogue, Bradley-Jones stressed that energy security, climate change and rising electricity demand associated with the digital economy require international cooperation.
She highlighted the growing connection between economic security and the transition to low-carbon energy systems, noting that the expansion of artificial intelligence and other electricity-intensive technologies makes it increasingly important to develop renewable power while finding ways to reduce emissions from industries that are difficult to decarbonise.
Bradley-Jones said the new CCUS framework would provide a more structured basis for bilateral cooperation, encouraging lasting links between policymakers, regulators, researchers and businesses.
Taiwan’s Deputy Minister Kiang similarly emphasised that geopolitical tensions, extreme weather and fluctuations in international energy markets have made the relationship between energy security and the net-zero transition increasingly important.
She confirmed that the two sides would exchange expertise on CCUS policy and technological developments, while continuing to explore practical opportunities for joint initiatives.
New framework for carbon capture cooperation
The newly established UK-Taiwan CCUS Partnership is designed to support the development of commercially viable carbon capture industries in both markets. It reflects a shared assessment that capturing and storing carbon emissions could help reduce the environmental impact of sectors such as cement production and other industrial activities where eliminating emissions through electrification or renewable energy alone can be difficult.
The initiative will bring together government bodies, regulators, industrial companies, investors and research organisations. Its work will be organised around three areas.
The first will focus on policy and regulation, including exchanges on regulatory frameworks, financing mechanisms and measures to encourage the deployment of carbon capture infrastructure.
The second will concentrate on research and technical development, connecting universities, technical institutions and industrial clusters to address challenges involving carbon storage, monitoring and verification.
The third will explore commercial opportunities and investment, with the longer-term aim of linking companies, investors and project developers to support future projects and business partnerships.
Senior officials from both sides will oversee the initiative, supported by designated working-level representatives. A joint secretariat is expected to be established to coordinate activities and assess progress across the three workstreams.
The partnership builds on more than 20 years of UK-Taiwan cooperation in renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, and extends that relationship into technologies intended to support industrial decarbonisation.
Strait of Hormuz disruption highlights energy vulnerabilities
Energy security was the focus of the dialogue’s opening technical session. Simon Payne examined the implications of the Strait of Hormuz crisis for the UK’s energy transition, arguing that disruption in international energy markets reinforces the case for expanding domestic clean power generation.
Reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels can help limit exposure to global price shocks, while supporting climate objectives and improving long-term affordability. Payne also outlined measures to protect consumers, strengthen energy-system resilience and encourage investment in domestic clean energy infrastructure.
His presentation highlighted the importance of renewable electricity, effective market arrangements and long-term infrastructure planning in reducing vulnerability to external disruptions.
Taiwan’s Energy Administration offered a perspective shaped by the island’s growing electricity requirements and exposure to geopolitical risks affecting fuel supplies.
Fang-Ling Liao, Director of the administration’s Energy Policy and Climate Change Division, described Taiwan’s Second Energy Transition, which prioritises diversification of green energy sources, improved efficiency, energy storage and a more resilient electricity grid.
Measures under consideration and implementation include regular assessments of future power demand, additional gas-fired generation capacity, stronger requirements for large data centres, emergency preparedness, diversified fuel procurement and strategic reserves.
The discussion underscored the need to balance rising electricity consumption, including demand from semiconductor manufacturing and AI infrastructure, with reliable supplies and emissions-reduction commitments.
Offshore wind remains a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation
Offshore wind was another major focus, with both countries presenting their development plans and identifying areas where their experience and industrial capabilities could complement one another.
The UK has established itself as a major offshore wind market, with 16.7 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity. Its target is to increase this to between 43GW and 50GW by 2030.
Luke Rawcliffe outlined recent policy developments and the role of the Contracts for Difference support mechanism in encouraging investment. He also highlighted the results of Allocation Round 7, which secured a record 8.4GW of offshore wind capacity.
Looking ahead, the UK’s priorities include expanding the electricity grid, strengthening domestic supply chains, improving planning and port infrastructure, and developing floating offshore wind technology to unlock sites in deeper waters.
Taiwan reported approximately 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity, with 515 turbines operating as of 1 October 2026.
Ju-Ming Cheng, Director of the Energy Development Division at Taiwan’s Energy Administration, outlined the island’s offshore wind development programme for 2026–2039. The plan envisages further allocation rounds, the regular release of new capacity and additional projects supported by coordination among government departments.
Taiwan’s next phase of development will depend on clearer policy arrangements, stronger local manufacturing and supply chains, improved financing conditions and more efficient administrative procedures. Preparations for floating offshore wind demonstration projects are also part of its longer-term strategy.
The exchanges highlighted the potential for continued collaboration in project development, technology, investment and supply-chain development as both countries seek to expand renewable electricity generation.
UK outlines plans to expand carbon capture infrastructure
The CCUS session examined how carbon capture technologies could support emissions reductions in industrial sectors where alternatives remain limited.
Chloe Healy, Industrial Carbon Capture Strategy Lead at DESNZ, presented the UK’s approach, including lessons from previous programmes and the development of tailored commercial models for carbon capture, transportation and storage.
She highlighted progress at the HyNet and East Coast industrial clusters, where shared infrastructure is intended to help businesses reduce emissions. Such infrastructure can make carbon capture more practical by connecting industrial facilities to transport networks and storage sites rather than requiring every company to develop its own system.
The UK also plans to extend deployment through additional industrial clusters while strengthening domestic supply chains and technical capabilities.
Taiwan’s Climate Change Administration outlined its own approach, identifying CCUS as a potential tool for achieving net-zero emissions, particularly in industries where substantial reductions remain technically challenging.
Ciao-Kai Liang, a section chief at the administration, presented Taiwan’s CCUS Flagship Carbon Reduction Action Plan. The programme aims to reduce annual emissions by six million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2035 through regulatory measures, technological development, financial incentives, green investment and international cooperation.
The UK and Taiwan are expected to use the new partnership to exchange lessons on policy design, industrial deployment and financing, while identifying opportunities for future research and commercial collaboration.
Renewable energy conference brings industry into the discussion
The 21st UK-Taiwan Renewable Energy Conference complemented the government-level dialogue by bringing together energy specialists, industry leaders and representatives of major companies.
Participants included representatives from the UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, DESNZ, Scottish Development International, The Crown Estate and Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, alongside 13 leading UK companies.
Discussions addressed the challenges and opportunities emerging as energy systems become more reliant on renewable generation and electricity demand rises. Key subjects included carbon capture, grid resilience in the age of artificial intelligence, floating offshore wind, subsea cable technologies, operational optimisation and marine services.
The conference provided an opportunity to connect policy ambitions with commercial expertise, helping businesses explore potential partnerships and investment opportunities in both markets.
Long-term cooperation focused on energy resilience
The latest meetings mark a further stage in the UK and Taiwan’s efforts to strengthen cooperation across renewable energy and emerging low-carbon technologies.
For the UK, closer engagement offers opportunities to apply its experience in offshore wind development, industrial decarbonisation and energy infrastructure to a market continuing to expand its renewable capacity. For Taiwan, cooperation can support technology development, regulatory learning, investment and the strengthening of local supply chains.
The new CCUS Partnership adds an industrial decarbonisation dimension to a relationship already shaped by more than two decades of renewable energy collaboration.
As both sides confront geopolitical uncertainty, growing electricity demand and the need to reduce emissions, their cooperation is intended to support more resilient energy systems, new commercial opportunities and sustainable economic growth.
