The United Kingdom and the US state of California have agreed to accelerate cooperation on clean energy investment after a new agreement was signed in London by UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and California Governor Gavin Newsom, renews.BIZ reported.
The Memorandum of Understanding strengthens decades of cooperation between the two economies and sets out a framework to boost innovation, scale up clean energy technologies, and connect businesses and researchers, according to an official statement.
The agreement aims to link the UK’s clean energy sector with the California market, opening new export opportunities, supporting skilled jobs, and helping British companies expand their operations.
Both governments have also committed to closer cooperation on clean energy, climate action, and environmental protection. The partnership is intended to speed up the adoption of technologies that lower energy bills, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and protect nature.
As part of the agreement, the UK and California will share expertise on biodiversity protection and improving community resilience to extreme weather events.
Officials noted that both clean energy economies are growing rapidly. The UK’s net zero economy expanded three times faster than the wider UK economy in 2024, while California created clean energy jobs at three times the rate of the rest of its economy.
Miliband said the government’s clean energy mission aims to cut bills, create jobs, and tackle climate change. He added that international partnerships such as the agreement with California would open new opportunities for UK businesses and attract investment.
Newsom said California remains a leading destination for clean energy investment, citing clear targets and strong delivery. He said the agreement deepens climate cooperation with the UK and welcomed close to $1 billion in clean technology investment from Octopus Energy.
Businesses have welcomed the agreement, saying it will create growth opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.
Nick Chaset, chief executive of Octopus Energy US, said the agreement would help British technology firms expand in California. He said Octopus Energy is already working with Southern California Edison, where its Octopus Shift app allows electric vehicles and home batteries to support the power grid while giving customers greater control over energy use.
Chaset added that the agreement would give investors greater confidence to introduce additional technologies in California, including Octopus Electroverse, which operates more than 1.3 million public charging points across 50 countries.
