Great British Energy to power UK clean energy expansion and support thousands of jobs

Daniel Bevan - Senior Journalist

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The government has set out its objectives for Great British Energy, the new publicly-owned company tasked with driving clean energy investment, boosting UK supply chains, and protecting households from global fossil fuel price volatility.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband today (16 September) outlined his vision for the company, describing it as central to Britain’s “clean energy superpower mission” and to taking back control of the country’s energy supply.

Great British Energy has already committed around £200 million to solar and renewable projects across schools, hospitals and public buildings. Panels are now generating savings on energy bills for frontline services, signalling the company’s role in cutting costs while accelerating the clean transition.

“It is time to make things and own things in Britain again,” said Miliband. “That’s why we have set up Great British Energy to be a new national champion and allow us to reap the benefits of Britain’s abundant natural resources. Great British Energy will place working people, communities and British industries at its core, turbocharging clean energy across the country as part of our clean power mission.”

Under its newly published objectives, the company will act as a developer, investor and owner of clean energy projects, working with private firms, devolved governments, local authorities and community groups.

It will also focus on increasing public ownership of clean power while supporting jobs and economic growth across the UK. Crucially, the government expects Great British Energy to be self-financing by 2030, with profits reinvested into projects that help protect households from energy price shocks.

The company’s priorities, agreed by devolved governments, are:

Investing in both established and emerging renewable technologies to meet the Clean Power 2030 target and beyond.
Strengthening domestic supply chains to boost resilience and long-term growth.
Supporting local and community energy schemes as part of a new Local Power Plan, ensuring communities share in the benefits of the energy transition.

Great British Energy’s CEO, Dan McGrail, welcomed the strategic direction, confirming that a detailed plan will be published within six months.

“Work is already underway at Great British Energy to deliver our Strategic Plan, and we welcome the Secretary of State’s recommendations,” McGrail said. “Most of the clean energy projects in the Government’s Industrial Strategy will flow through Great British Energy, enabling us to be the green growth engine for the UK.

“We are going to invest £1 billion in domestic supply chains, which I expect will unlock billions more in investment and create thousands of jobs. Along with our partners like The National Wealth Fund, The Crown Estate, Great British Energy-Nuclear and many more, we are primed to develop innovative ways to grow new renewable technologies, ensuring our energy is engineered in the UK.”

The company is also working with The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland, building on a £1 billion joint investment in offshore wind supply chains announced earlier this year. That initiative is expected to support economic growth and create thousands of skilled jobs across the country.

The creation of Great British Energy was formalised by the passing of the Great British Energy Act in May. With its first strategic plan due in the coming months, the government says the company will act as a “catalyst” for clean energy expansion, helping the UK reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets while driving long-term industrial growth.

Great British Energy to power UK clean energy expansion and support thousands of jobs