Tag: Energy Security and Net Zero Department

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 17 June 2026.

Action to protect families in the energy market and hold the retrofit industry to account.

• New service to provide stronger oversight of retrofit industry – giving families confidence to upgrade their homes and cut bills 
• Reforms will help fix broken system which led to widespread issues with poor-quality insulation under inherited government schemes 
• Households to get fairer and faster compensation in the energy market under new measures to strengthen the Ombudsman 

Families will be better protected when upgrading their homes, giving them confidence to make improvements and cut their bills. 

Ministers are taking action to hold the retrofit industry to account for delivering home upgrades through a new consumer protection service, under proposals announced today (Wednesday 17 June).  

Plans being consulted on would create:  

• a transparent public register of government approved installers
• a single advice and support service covering the entire time a home is being upgraded 
• powers to hold installers and delivery partners to account, including bans from working on government schemes if they don’t meet high standards
• a new data-backed system that spots risks and installer performance issues earlier 

This will simplify the process for consumers, providing a single point of access offering end-to-end support, quality checks, and routes to redress. 

In the past, people have faced a broken and fragmented system when installing energy efficiency measures and been left frustrated and let down when things have gone wrong, with no clear way to resolve issues. 

Ministers are therefore acting to ensure issues which resulted in flawed insulation under legacy government schemes are never allowed to happen again.  

Consumers will also be supported with faster and fairer compensation in the energy market under new measures to strengthen the Energy Ombudsman, which helps people solve disputes with their energy suppliers.

If companies are not able to resolve issues directly, customers will be able to escalate their complaints to the Ombudsman within a shorter time frame, getting a decision more quickly – cutting overall waiting times by a month, to a maximum of 10 weeks.

The Ombudsman will be empowered to fine companies if they do not comply with their ruling, with new measures set to clarify the route for consumers to go through the courts to hold suppliers to account as a last resort.

Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said:   

This government inherited a broken system that left too many people in homes damaged by work that lacked clear oversight, without support when things went wrong. 

That is why we promised to change that system and today we are setting out how we propose to do that. 

We are building a system that puts consumers first – holding companies to account while introducing better compensation and protections for customers.

From today, the Installation Assurance Authority (IAA) will now cover the cost of repairs to Energy Company Obligation 4 (ECO4) and Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) solid wall insulation up to £25,000, up from £20,000, where these are within the terms of the original, still-valid guarantee. This includes cases where the original installer has gone bust. 

The National Energy Foundation, a domestic energy charity, will also cover the cost of relevant repairs for some homes with defective ECO4 and GBIS solid wall insulation, where the installer has gone out of business and the guarantee was cancelled, fraudulent or missing. 

Since identifying issues with poor-quality solid wall insulation installed under ECO4 and GBIS, government has set up a comprehensive on-site audit programme offering audits at no cost to the consumer, remediated more than 60% of the issues identified with audits, worked with Ofgem to create a dedicated call centre for affected households, and improved the quality assurance and consumer protection systems currently in place. 

By stamping out bad practice and reforming the broken system inherited by the government, the plans aim to restore families’ trust in the retrofit industry and give them confidence that work will be completed to a high standard. 

The changes mark the latest step to support families as government accelerates the drive for clean power to protect billpayers from the fossil fuel rollercoaster. 

By bringing forward the biggest investment in warm homes in British history – including making plug-in solar available in shops, giving homeowners living in properties heated by oil and LPG £9,000 off the cost of a heat pump, and taking decisive action on delinking electricity prices from international as prices – the government is driving forward with plans to upgrade as many homes as possible to cut bills.

Adam Scorer, CEO, National Energy Action, and Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel member, said: 

Strengthening consumer protections for home upgrades is an essential step toward homes that are more affordable to heat and that make people healthier. I welcome a reform agenda considered through the experiences of more vulnerable households with less market power and who stand to benefit most from government support.

Gillian Cooper, Director of Energy at Citizens Advice, and Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel member, said: 

We welcome the commitment to right-first-time installations and a simpler customer journey. Providing routes to impartial advice and redress where needed will give consumers confidence to adopt vital retrofit measures.

Charlotte Lee, CEO at Heat Pump Association UK, and Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel member, said: 

We welcome these proposals as a positive step towards strengthening consumer protection and building confidence in the transition to low-carbon heating. As the heat pump market continues to grow, it is essential that consumers can rely on high standards, clear accountability and effective support should issues arise. 

The proposed reforms have the potential to improve oversight, strengthen quality assurance and create a more joined-up approach to consumer protection across the sector.  

Better use of data and clearer delivery obligations should also help identify issues earlier and drive continuous improvement across the supply chain. Consumer trust is fundamental to the successful rollout of heat pumps, and these measures represent an important opportunity to improve customer outcomes while supporting the growth of a high-quality, resilient market.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders and Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel member, said: 

The retrofit market is a confusing landscape for both consumers and trades. The government’s proposals to improve consumer protection are a welcome step forward most notably the consideration to make more trades and related occupations subject to more government oversight. Greater oversight will offer the best protection to consumers and help drive out incompetent installers.

Lynne Sullivan, OBE, Chair of National Retrofit Hub and Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel member, said:  

The NRH welcomes the comprehensive analysis and scope of the proposed reforms as well as government’s willingness to play a pivotal role; clarity of responsibilities is key to improving customer experience of the retrofit journey, and should become the norm for the retrofit market.

Anthony Pygram, member of the Committee on Fuel Poverty, and Retrofit System Reform Advisory Panel member, said: 

People who struggle to pay for their energy need to be confident that retrofit measures and their installers are trustworthy and, if things do go wrong, they will not lose out. This consultation is an important step in the right direction.

Ed Dodman, Chief Ombudsman for Energy Ombudsman, said: 

The measures announced today by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero represent a positive step forward in enhancing consumer protections and reinforcing high standards across the energy sector. In an essential market such as energy, it’s vital that the right steps continue to be taken to strengthen trust, accountability and outcomes for consumers. 

Strengthening the role of Energy Ombudsman and making the process faster will ensure consumers can not only have quicker access to redress but also have the confidence that issues will be resolved effectively. 

There is still work to be done, and we look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with government, the regulator, suppliers and stakeholders to ensure the system delivers fair, timely and accessible outcomes for all.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 16 June 2026.

Retailers join government plans to bring plug-in solar panels to UK homes, helping families save money on bills.

• B&Q and Currys join Government plans to bring plug-in solar to UK homes
• Rooftop solar panels are already saving families up to £480 a month
• Government launches consultation for industry views on ensuring consumer safety

More families are set to save money on bills as flagship retailers Currys, B&Q, Amazon and Lidl join Government plans to bring plug-in solar panels to UK homes. 

At a roundtable of some of the biggest retailers in the country, with a combined total of almost four thousand stores and significant online presence, Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey discussed the crucial role of plug-in solar in the clean energy revolution.

Those in attendance included Amazon, Asda, B&Q, Currys, Screwfix and Wickes, who discussed the technology and how it can offer a cheaper route for people to save money on bills.

This follows rule changes announced by the government earlier this year that will allow UK homeowners to self-install plug-in solar panels in the coming months and builds on savings of up to £480 consumers can already make from rooftop panels.

Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said:

Plug-in panels can be transformative for renters or those on lower incomes, so I welcome the conversation today with household names such as B&Q and Currys showing a huge amount of support for getting the panels in people’s homes.

This easy to install tech can cut people’s bills and help make the UK less reliant on global fossil fuel markets.

John Boumphrey, UK & Ireland Country Manager, Amazon said: 

This is a fantastic opportunity to make renewable energy more accessible to people around the UK. Amazon is the largest corporate buyer of carbon-free energy in the UK – we’ve invested in over 40 large scale solar and wind projects to date.

Enabling households to generate their own power with self-install plug-in solar panels is a practical step that supports household budgets and delivering against net zero goals.

Graham Bell, CEO of B&Q, said:

We welcome the introduction of plug-in solar panels to the UK market, which will help households to generate their own energy and reduce their bills. This builds on our existing range of portable solar and battery solutions.

We are working closely with Government and suppliers to understand and help shape the guidance, ensuring any products we offer are safe, compliant and straightforward to install. We look forward to making plug-in solar available to our customers as soon as possible.

Georgina Hall, corporate affairs director at Lidl GB, said:

At Lidl GB, we want to make sustainable choices affordable and accessible to every household which is why we are supporting DESNZ’s latest steps toward modernising regulations for ‘plug-and-play’ technology.

By establishing a clear, robust framework to bring plug-in solar to market safely and efficiently, it could unlock a highly effective, low-cost route for people to reduce their energy bills. We welcome this consultation and look forward to working alongside the Government and industry partners to explore how these products can safely play their role in the UK’s clean energy revolution.

Michelle Gorringe-Smith, Director of New Categories at Currys, said: 

We’re delighted to be working with DESNZ to bring plug-in solar panels to the UK market. With energy bills continuing to rise, enabling the safe roll-out of these products will mark an important step for consumers across the UK – including the more than 80% of UK households that shop at Currys.

This technology, already widely used by households throughout Europe, is easy to install and could save many households significant amounts on their energy bills, while helping make the UK less reliant on global fossil fuel markets.

The low-cost panels can be put on balconies or in any outdoor space, providing free solar power that can be used directly through a mains socket like any other device, without an installation cost, thereby reducing the amount of electricity taken from the grid.   

Alongside the roundtable, the government has today (16 June) launched a consultation seeking industry views on enforcing the rules so consumers can safely install plug-in panels in their homes.

Households across Britain are already embracing solar power in record numbers. 2025 saw a record 269,000 solar installations completed in the UK – the highest total ever recorded in a calendar year and 37 per cent larger than the year before.

Around 255,000 of these were rooftop solar – meaning at least 95 per cent of all new solar was installed on homes, businesses and other buildings. This equates to a new rooftop solar installation every two minutes throughout 2025.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 2 June 2026.

Families and businesses will continue to reap the benefits of the clean energy transition in the coming decades.

• Government sets next achievable and pragmatic target for long-term emissions reduction, building on the framework that has secured billions of private  investment and economic growth since 2008, a “great British success story”
• Moving at pace to electrify Britain and deliver clean, homegrown energy will unlock greater energy security, lower bills for good, cleaner air, thousands of good jobs and action on the climate crisis following record British heatwaves

Families and businesses across the UK will continue to reap the benefits of the clean energy transition, as the government sets a new emissions target to further protect family finances, grow the economy and tackle the climate crisis.    

As Britain faces its second fossil fuel price shock in 5 years due to the war in Iran, the government is pursuing policies which deliver tangible improvements to the lives of working people – centred on getting Britain off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets and onto clean homegrown power. 

Today (Tuesday 2 June) the government has set out its proposed level for the seventh Carbon Budget, which sets a science-led target of ~87% emissions reduction in the period 2038 to 2042 – endorsed by the Environmental Audit Committee and the Climate Change Committee.

It comes as an independent report from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, supported by analysis from the Confederation of British Industries Economics, today shows that the net zero economy supports over one million jobs in the UK, adding £105 billion in gross value added (GVA)  to the UK economy in 2025 alone, as it continues to thrive as one of the UK’s fastest- growing economic sectors.

The new target is based on evidence-based assumptions about how the country will take a consumer choice-led approach to the adoption of technologies such as solar, batteries and EVs that will cut bills for families.

The level for the Seventh Carbon Budget has been chosen because:

• moving at pace to clean energy and net zero emissions is the best choice to reduce the exposure of UK families and businesses to more fossil fuel shocks, as the UK has seen following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Iran War
• it maximises the benefits of the clean energy and net zero transition, including to the economy, health and nature
• it is consistent with the Paris Agreement aim to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees, to avoid climate disaster for future generations

This builds on the UK’s pioneering Climate Change Act 2008 – backed by British businesses, scientists, trade unions and civil society – which has provided a framework for combining economic growth and climate action, attracting billions of private sector investment and seen the UK become a global leader in clean energy industries. Since July 2024, the UK has seen over £90 billion of private investment announced in clean energy, including carbon capture projects in Teesside and nuclear at Sizewell C off the Suffolk coast.

The government’s clean energy and climate plans include:

• Cutting bills and costs: March saw the highest monthly solar deployment in over a decade and a record month for EV sales. Families installing solar could save up to £500 a year, electric cars can save drivers up to £1,400 annually to run and external estimates show new electric cars are now on average, cheaper to buy than petrol equivalents. Alongside this, the £15 billion Warm Homes Plan will deliver the biggest home upgrade programme in British history, cutting bills and lifting millions out of fuel poverty
• Delivering energy security: Half of the UK’s recessions since 1970 have been caused by fossil fuel shocks. The government is investing in renewable and nuclear energy to get the UK off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel prices, delivering a record-breaking renewables auction that secured enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 23 million homes. By 2050, the UK could cut its reliance on fossil fuels from around three quarters of our energy today to around 15%, while avoiding around £445 billion in fossil fuel spending over the next 25 years
• Jobs and investment: The government is driving a major clean energy jobs push, supporting over 400,000 additional jobs by 2030 across the UK. According to the CBI Economics report, in 2025, jobs supported by net zero businesses were 48%, or 1.5 times more productive than the UK average, generating £119,300 in economic value per full-time job. This led to higher-than-average wages, with these jobs generating an average of £43,142 to a full-time worker
• Cleaner air and nature recovery: Clean energy will help make the air cleaner across the country, leading to better health and a higher quality of life for people now and in the future. Cleaner air from the transition is estimated to deliver around 8,000 fewer hospital admissions each year by 2050, easing pressure on the NHS. Restoring peatlands and planting new woodland will deliver around £50 billion in nature benefits over the period to 2050, improving biodiversity, water quality, flood protection and access to nature

Without action, climate change continues to endanger the UK’s food and water security, exacerbate global population displacement and pose national security risks, including to critical infrastructure, in a context of increased global instability and households already suffering from the price volatility of fossil fuels. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is also clear that the costs of climate damage are getting higher, while the cost of the net zero transition is getting lower. This is about protecting the UK’s way of life and the natural world from significant dangers.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

As Britain faces the second fossil fuel shock of the decade, the only way to protect family and business finances is to drive for clean homegrown power that we control.  

What has been achieved so far by businesses and communities across the country is a great British success story – cutting costs by upgrading homes, backing British businesses, supporting one million good jobs according to new analysis from CBI Economics, and protecting our beautiful countryside.  

Some people want to stick their heads in the sand and let our children face the consequences of climate breakdown – but this government believes in the timeless British value of protecting our country for generations to come.

Climate Minister Katie White said:

The record-breaking May heatwave is another reminder that climate change is no longer a distant prospect. Increased heatwaves, flooding and nature loss are becoming the new norm for our country.

That’s why we’re continuing to set a clear investment framework which will electrify Britain, maximising the benefits of clean power with cleaner air, warmer homes, energy security, investment into Britain and thousands of jobs in the industries of the future.

A delivery plan setting out how Carbon Budget 7 will be met will be published as soon as is reasonably practical after Parliament has approved the budget.  

Legislating the carbon budget level for 2038 to 2042 now sends an economy-wide signal to investors and businesses, providing long-term certainty which will encourage investment and growth.

Stakeholder reactions

Dhara Vyas, Chief Executive at Energy UK said:    

The events of recent weeks have once again underlined the importance of pressing ahead with the move to clean energy to reduce our vulnerability to global fossil fuel price shocks and strengthen our energy independence in an uncertain world. The quicker we increase the amount of energy we get from our own clean sources, the less exposed our homes, businesses and economy will be in future.   

The fact that we now get over half of our electricity from low carbon sources is because the certainty and direction provided by the Climate Change Act and carbon budgets have given investors, developers and businesses the confidence to put billions of pounds into long-term projects in this country. As today’s CBIE report shows, the net zero economy is thriving and delivering above average economic benefits right across the country – continuing to support it will be key to delivering greater growth and prosperity for our country over the coming years and decades.

Ben Martin, Policy Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:   

The energy transition presents significant economic opportunities across the UK, driving innovation and economic growth, as well as supporting jobs and skills.    

There are already so many innovative businesses that are developing low carbon technology solutions critical to supporting net zero. The Seventh Carbon Budget provides greater certainty for these firms and builds on progress already made.   

Businesses, alongside Chambers of Commerce, are playing a leading role in supporting the transition in areas such as nuclear power, offshore wind, solar, and carbon capture.    

Firms stand ready to work with government to strengthen energy security, drive investment, and support growth.

Verity Davidge, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Make UK, said:  

With government beginning to harness the sector plans laid out in the industrial strategy and taking the first steps towards reducing electricity costs for manufacturers, we can see that the Seventh Carbon Budget underlines the unique opportunity that the clean energy economy offers for sustained industrial growth across Britain. A sustained growth in UK electrification supply chains could help modernise industrial processes and ensure that UK manufacturing can compete on an increasingly carbon free international stage in the years ahead.

Rt Hon Lord Alok Sharma, Chair of the UK Transition Finance Council and former Business and Energy Secretary, said:   

I welcome the government endorsing the independent Climate Change Committee’s overall emission reduction target out to 2042. It is vital this is backed by credible delivery plans which unlock economic growth, jobs and private sector finance, particularly to assist high-emitting sectors decarbonise in a timely manner.   

I therefore hope the government will act on the policy recommendations made by the Transition Finance Council, which will help to deliver finance to assist hard-to-abate sectors transition from grey to green.

Rachel Solomon Williams, Executive Director at Aldersgate Group, said:   

Today’s publication of Carbon Budget 7 is a major step forward in the UK’s plans to meet its net zero commitments. It is good to see the government is setting a target that should drive urgent action to drive down carbon emissions.  

As today’s new report by the CBI and ECIU also shows, net zero is delivering benefits right across the UK economy. The sector encompasses 23,000 firms, of which over 96% are small or medium size; it also supports over 1 million jobs, with wages at 11% higher than average.  

We look forward to the publication of a delivery plan to accompany this new carbon budget, providing the certainty businesses need and placing the UK’s net zero plans at the heart of our economic future. The plan must set out clearly what action will be taken across different sectors, especially on meeting growing demand for electricity across heating, transport and industry, as well as bringing costs down.

James Alexander, CEO of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF), said:  

The government’s strategy for reducing emissions is a vital element of our economic positioning for the years ahead.   

Investors need certainty to allocate billions of pounds of capital to major low-carbon industries, and the carbon budget is an important demonstration of the UK’s ongoing commitment to decarbonisation.  

The benefits of this private financing are being felt among thousands of small and medium-sized companies, which are playing their part in supply chains up and down the country. The government must continue to match these emissions benchmarks with policies that make it even more attractive to invest in the UK.

Chris Norbury, CEO of E.ON UK, said:  

Every step forward on the energy transition is welcome but the prize is bigger than emissions alone. It’s the chance to transform a system built for a different century into one that works for customers where flexibility is rewarded, demand is dynamic and pounds end up back in people’s pockets. Action now means lower bills and energy security all moving in the same direction.

Tara Singh, Chief Executive as RenewableUK, said:  

Setting clear goals helps us to attract billions in private investment in the UK’s world-class clean tech industries, creating well-paid jobs throughout the country in wind, solar, energy storage and green hydrogen – our new powerhouses of economic growth. The clean power we generate cuts bills by pushing the most expensive gas generators off the system. Low-cost electricity from renewables protects billpayers from price shocks on volatile global fossil fuel markets which we can’t control, strengthening the UK’s energy security as we move closer towards energy independence.

David Hawkes, Head of Policy at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) said:  

The ICE has long been clear that the UK doesn’t need to choose between its environmental and economic goals. The road to net zero is paved with opportunities to create jobs, strengthen energy security, and deliver better outcomes for people and nature.  

It’s encouraging to see the government maintain focus on these benefits, even in uncertain times, and to have confirmation that decarbonisation is already supporting economic growth. Infrastructure and the professionals who deliver it are central to this transition.   

The priority now is pace: the sector needs clear direction and consistent policy signals to keep up momentum. Clear priorities and stable, long-term investment will be essential to deliver at the speed and scale required.

Prof Miranda Barker OBE DL, CEO at East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said:  

The progress of the UK trajectory going forward in Carbon Budget 7 shows a true triple bottom line of benefit for the UK. Safeguarding our people with real energy security, bringing significant economic benefit for the UK from maximising our growth in the global low carbon tech sector, to continuing our progress in reducing the UK’s environmental impact.

The benefits of this private financing are being felt among thousands of small and medium-sized companies, which are playing their part in supply chains up and down the country. 

The government must continue to match these emissions benchmarks with policies that make it even more attractive to invest in the UK.

Nigel Topping CMG, Chair of the Climate Change Committee, said:  

The Committee is delighted that the government have accepted the CCC’s advised level for the Seventh Carbon Budget. The lower-cost, energy-secure future is electric – so we hope to see the government plan to accelerate electrification, in particular by making electricity cheaper.   

The government must make its own pathway; but investors, businesses, and trade unions can have confidence in the work that we have done to show this is a feasible yet ambitious approach to a more secure world. We will continue to hold the government to account for how it delivers against its targets and celebrate the successes the country has achieved.

Professor Lord Stern of Brentford, Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Global School of Sustainability at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said:   

This carbon budget is in line with the expert independent advice of the Climate Change Committee, and is an important indicator that the UK will continue on the path to ending the UK’s contribution to climate change by reaching net zero emissions by 2050. The evidence is now clearer than ever that the investments required to make the transition away from fossil fuels are far smaller than the potential costs of climate change impacts. These investments in the clean technologies and businesses of the future will lower costs, drive growth and ensure that the UK remains competitive. Any slippage now on net zero by the UK, in light of its past leadership on climate change, would have serious and adverse knock-on effects on the commitments by other countries to decarbonise their economies.

Kevin Austin, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the RSPB, said:    

Moving away from our reliance on fossil fuels is critical to restoring nature in the UK. Our security, prosperity and wellbeing all rely on having a healthy natural world, and the good news is that nature can play a significant role in helping us to meet carbon targets. Restoring peatland, planting native trees, speeding up the rollout of renewable energy and decarbonising the economy are all key to delivering the healthy ecosystems people and wildlife depend on.

Holly Brazier Tope, Director of Politics at Green Alliance, said:    

The UK’s Climate Change Act has set the standard for climate legislation worldwide, and Carbon Budget 7 is a crucial part of delivering on that ambition. It’s an opportunity to cut emissions, secure our energy supply, lower bills and build a stronger, fairer economy, all while giving businesses and investors the long term certainty they need. With a clean energy workforce set to reach hundreds of thousands by 2030, the moment is there to be seized to deliver lasting prosperity for communities across the UK.

Nick Mabey Chief Executive of E3G, said: 

The British people, reeling from yet another oil and gas crisis, support ambitious action to transition to clean power, bring their energy bills back under control and tackle rising climate risks. Providing a predictable, long term forward policy is the best way to ensure the UK continues to benefit from the record amounts of investment in clean energy it is attracting. The alternative of ripping up twenty years of climate policy is a threat to British security and competitiveness.

Mike Childs, Head of Science, Policy and Research at Friends of the Earth, said:    

Extreme heat and record-breaking temperatures in May, more frequent and severe flooding, wildfires and drought – this is already the reality of the climate crisis in the UK.   

Cutting carbon emissions is vital to help avert the worst impacts of climate change, but it’s also our best opportunity to grow the economy, create jobs, deliver cheap homegrown energy and improve lives with warmer homes, better bus services and cleaner air.   

The alternative approach will leave the UK hooked on expensive gas, exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis, harm nature and commit future generations to climate chaos.

Rick Parfett, Head of Climate Policy at WWF, said:   

Another spike in gas prices shows the real cost of staying tied to fossil fuels. Reaching net zero won’t just protect the climate, it’ll help protect households, strengthen the economy, and safeguard the natural world we all rely on – and it will cost us less than one fossil fuel shock per decade. Our green economy is already a real success story, delivering growth in every part of the UK and supporting over a million jobs.    

Today’s announcement should give businesses confidence to invest in a fair transition, backed by independent advice and the Climate Change Act, but we need clear, credible and ambitious policies to make that happen. That means using the National Wealth Fund and GB Energy to help more people power their homes with clean energy, cut bills, and support nature’s recovery.

Maria Mendiluce, CEO at We Mean Business Coalition said:  

An 87% reduction in emissions by 2040 is a significant demonstration of UK leadership at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty and continued fossil fuel price volatility. The Climate Change Committee’s pathway provides a credible route to a more competitive, secure and resilient economy. Electrification and clean electricity sit at the heart of that pathway, delivering the majority of emissions reductions while reducing exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets. This decision by the UK will give businesses greater confidence to invest in the infrastructure, technologies and industries that will underpin future growth.

Bev Cornaby, Director at Corporate Leaders Group UK (CLG UK), said:   

Acting on climate change is both necessary for managing the real risks to the economy and widely supported by a large majority of British people. Recent events have underlined how tightly energy security, economic stability and market confidence are linked. And how global conflict can impact affordability.   

But as we act, we need a clear, evidence-based plan. The UK’s climate budget system gives us as a country the forward-looking clarity to make pragmatic plans about the future and ensure business and finance can invest with certainty in a green and growing economy. A much-needed focus toward homegrown clean power and electrification to provide energy security, protecting the UK economy from future fossil fuel price shocks, while creating jobs, is welcomed.

Rachael Orr, CEO of Climate Outreach said:   

We’ve made real progress in addressing climate change. Clean energy now powers more than 50% of Britain’s electricity. In our homes and communities, people are installing solar panels or switching to electric vehicles. Most Brits feel a sense of pride in this progress and want to see more of it. The seventh Carbon Budget charts a clear path to a better future for British people – cleaner air, warmer homes, and secure homegrown energy. The Government’s pace at putting these plans into practice – and ensuring real local benefits are seen and felt by all communities – will be vital.

Sofie Jenkinson, Co-Director of Round Our Way, said:  

Across the country we are seeing families and communities struggling with the cost and reliability of energy alongside being impacted by increasing extreme weather like floods and heatwaves. Everyone from footballers, farmers and fishers to parents, teachers, GPs, nurses and midwives are dealing with the impacts of climate change and the rising cost of energy in the UK, and we need a plan to tackle this, both now and in the future.   

The action the government is taking to move at pace on clean energy and electrification will not only insulate people from fuel price shocks by ensuring that we all have access to cheaper and more reliable home-grown energy, but will also mean that we are protecting the future of our homes, public services communities and favourite places – from football pitches and local pubs, to kid’s classrooms and hospital wards – from worsening climate impacts. Today’s plan from the government takes the issues we are facing today head-on and also ensures that we are protecting the future – of those we love, our favourite clubs and places and our communities.

Emily Morrison, Director Sustainability and Just Transition at The Young Foundation, said:  

Today’s Seventh Carbon Budget (CB7) proposes ambitious and practical pathways for action to lower energy bills, reduce price shocks, and create reliable food and fuel supplies for UK communities. At its heart, it recognises that a clean, green energy transition can help assure our safety, restore prosperity, and build renewed pride in the UK. This is starting to take effect. At The Young Foundation, we see appetite on a local level for the creation of green jobs, and for greater public uptake of green home energy, solar, retrofit and electric vehicles – as well as a passionate and growing community energy sector. Britain is making huge progress and we hope CB7 can support people – in every household and UK community – with balanced and scientifically robust next steps.

Catherine Pettengell, Executive Director of Climate Action Network UK (CAN-UK), said:  

Taking action to address climate change is about better lives for everyone, and today’s seventh carbon budget ensures the UK is on the right path to achieve this. It is the right choice for UK families as well as for nature and our climate, and the only viable route to lowering fuel and food prices long-term and preventing the most costly impacts of climate change on our lives.  

By following the Climate Change Committee’s independent expert advice, the UK has set a target that is evidence-based and achievable, and setting these long-range carbon budgets has led to a thriving net zero economy in the UK with more than a million jobs.  

The UK could and should go further and faster. Countries and communities least responsible for the climate crisis and most marginalised are suffering its worst impacts. Surpassing this target would bring a better and fairer future not just for the UK but for communities around the world.

Kyle Lischak, Head of UK at ClientEarth, said:   

For too long, the people of the UK have been held hostage by the volatility of fossil fuel energy markets, and we’re pleased to see the government taking seriously the fact that the security and prosperity of the UK depends in part on investment in domestic renewables.  

We eagerly await the details of how this carbon budget will be achieved and hope the government can match the ambition of the target with credible, well-planned and sustainable delivery.

Helen Meech, Executive Director of The Climate Coalition, said:   

Setting an ambitious Seventh Carbon Budget is exactly what the country needs right now, when energy security, food resilience and the cost of living all depend on accelerating our transition away from fossil fuels. This weekend, Great Big Green Week kicks off across the UK, bringing together two million people from farmers and faith groups to schools and sports clubs, who are already playing their part for climate and nature and want to see their government match their ambition.

Helen Clarkson, CEO at the Climate Group, said:  

We welcome the government’s latest commitment to drive electrification and the transition to homegrown clean energy in the UK. Last week’s record-breaking heat has shown that we are already living in a rapidly changing climate and that if we don’t act decisively, it’ll only be a small taste of what is yet to come. This clear roadmap for the transition until 2042 gives the businesses we work with confidence to invest for the mid-to-long term at the speed and scale so urgently needed.

Mat Hunter, CEO of the Design Council, said:  

The Seventh Carbon Budget reinforces that the clean energy transition is one of the UK’s biggest economic opportunities driving investment, strengthening energy security and supporting growth across the country.  

But it also sharpens the choice: act with pace and capture the benefits of a fast-growing global market, or delay and bear the rising costs of volatile fossil fuels and climate impacts. 

At the Design Council, we see this as a moment to ensure that the transition delivers for people and places as well as the economy to create better outcomes in how we live, work and move, and ensuring the benefits are felt right across the country.

Chris Taylor, Net Zero Programme Director at the Broadway Initiative, said:  

The publication of Carbon Budget 7 provides a clearer long-term pathway than ever before. This is vital for investors and businesses to plan investments in clean and securer sources of energy. It also provides a stronger basis for sectors to collaborate with the Government under the Net Zero Council to develop Sector Transition Plans. These plans will turn this long-term direction into practical pathways for decarbonisation,  innovation and jobs in some of the fasting growing sectors of the future.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 28 May 2026.

Households across the UK continue to embrace solar power as the government accelerates its clean power mission.

• 269,000 solar installations completed in 2025 – the highest total ever recorded in a calendar year and 37% larger than the year before
• 23,000 new solar installations in April 2026, with more than half installed on homes – showing households are turning to homegrown energy following the war in Iran
• 9 of the 10 strongest months for solar deployment on record have happened within the last year

Households across the UK continue to embrace solar power as the government accelerates its clean power mission to reduce Britain’s exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets following the outbreak of the war in Iran. 

New government data published today shows that 2025 was the strongest year on record for solar deployment, with 269,000 installations completed across the UK. Around 255,000 of these were rooftop solar – meaning at least 95% of all new solar was installed on homes, businesses and other buildings. This equates to a new rooftop solar installation every 2 minutes throughout 2025.

April 2026 figures published today also confirm that 9 of the 10 best-performing months ever recorded have occurred in the past year, with nearly 23,000 new installations in the last month alone – and more than 1 in 2 of those being rooftop solar on homes, showing households are increasingly choosing to generate their own power. 

The milestone follows the UK surpassing 2 million total solar installations for the first time in March 2026, across homes, communities and solar farms nationwide. It also comes as new annual figures from the government today show that the cost of acquiring and installing solar PV has decreased by up to 9%.

The surge reflects growing government investment in solar power to deliver clean energy and help lower bills, with rooftop solar saving families up to £480 a month. This includes:

• consenting Springwell Solar Farm, the largest power-producing solar farm in UK history
• driving forward with the rollout of ‘plug-in’ solar panels (low-cost panels that families can put on their balconies or outdoor space) to be available in shops within months and save people money on their bills
• ensuring solar panels are fitted on new homes in England as standard

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

As we face a second fossil fuel crisis in 5 years, Britain is taking back control of their energy by generating more clean power than ever before. Record-breaking solar growth means greater energy security, lower exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets which we can’t control. 

This is what our clean power mission looks like: backing homegrown energy, giving people more control over their bills, and building a stronger, more resilient energy system for the future.

Businesses and public services are also embracing Britain’s solar revolution – cutting costs and strengthening energy security. 

Numatic International, the maker of Henry the Hoover, has launched a new solar park expected to supply around 20% of its Somerset factory’s electricity demand.  

Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has installed rooftop solar expected to cut bills by around £9,500 a year, while Wren Kitchens is building what is set to become the UK’s largest factory rooftop solar array. 

These installations build on the success of Great British Energy’s solar scheme, with a further 100 schools and colleges set to receive rooftop solar this year.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy and Net Zero on 20 May 2026.

Lower bills for families, hospitals and charities through energy efficiency improvements to heat networks.

• £15.6 million to upgrade old and inefficient heat networks, lowering energy costs for communities
• Four projects in England handed a share of £25 million for new, cleaner heating systems
• Funding from the government’s Warm Homes Plan is helping families cut energy bills and tackle fuel poverty

More than 10,000 residents, alongside hospitals and charities, will benefit from lower bills thanks to upgrades to old and inefficient heat networks.

Backed by £15.6 million, 94 heat networks across England and Wales will see a host of improvements to make them more energy efficient and help lower bills.

Improvements will include replacing leaky pipes, insulating pipework to reduce heat loss and replacing interface units in homes so residents have better control of their heating.

Four heat network projects across England will also receive a share of £25 million to provide clean, affordable and reliable power.

In Bristol, £13.5 million will be used to expand the Bristol City Leap heat network, which will use heat pumps to deliver fossil fuel free heating to more homes and businesses, and will lead to the creation of more than 1,000 jobs, apprenticeships and work placements.

In Rochdale, £1 million will go towards building a heat network which takes heat from a sewer going through the town to provide low carbon heat to public buildings such as colleges and schools, Rochdale Infirmary, businesses and residential buildings, including social housing.

Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said:

The conflict in the Middle East has shown once again why we must get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and onto clean, homegrown power we control.

Heat networks will play a crucial role in that shift, lowering bills for whole communities while strengthening our energy security.

That’s why we’re upgrading old and inefficient systems and investing in modern, low-cost networks fit for the future.

The funding announced today (20 May) is part of the government’s mission to upgrade the nation’s homes through the Warm Homes Plan, helping families to cut energy bills and tackle fuel poverty.

It follows the government’s commitment in January to allocate £195 million a year for the Green Heat Network Fund and £15 million a year for the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme to 2029/30 in the Warm Homes Plan.

Heat networks are a way of heating multiple buildings from a central heating source – such as taking excess heat generated from a data centre or factory.

These systems provide communities with low-cost and efficient heat and will play a key role in the government’s mission to achieve clean power by 2030.

To ensure homes and businesses continue to receive a good quality service, government has committed funding to improve underperforming heat networks.

The latest round of funding through the Heat Network Efficiency Scheme will upgrade 94 of these systems across England and Wales, including:

• £1.2 million to improve the older heating system of three 1960s high rise blocks in Salford
• £2.1 million to upgrade five heat networks in Solihull, serving 484 residents
• £2.1 million for efficiency upgrades on two heat networks in Camden, London, improving the service for 358 residents

Meanwhile, the Green Heat Network Fund will help the development of the following schemes:

• £8.6 million to support the next phase of the King’s Cross Heating and Cooling Network in London, which serves more than 1,700 homes and 44 buildings using heat pumps
• £2.2 million to build a heat network in Atherstone, Warwickshire, taking waste heat from the Baddesley Energy from Waste facility to supply low-carbon heating to 1,700 homes

Chris Unsworth, Head of ADE: Heat Networks, said: 

Low-carbon heat networks work, they work for hospitals, they work for charities and they will work for over 10,000 residents who will now see lower bills. This funding will reach the strongest anchors in our communities – the places that can’t afford to be left behind. We now need to go further to fix every legacy heat network, connect every public institution that could benefit and unlock the full potential of heat networks.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 20 March 2026.

Upgrades to air defence radar systems will help unlock record breaking offshore wind capacity.

• New radar systems will help unlock 10 GW of offshore wind in UK waters, powering thousands of homes with clean, homegrown energy
• New technology secures coexistence of air defence and offshore wind – enabling government to deliver its clean power mission while protecting national security
• This comes as the government launches a consultation today to unlock up to 6 GW of onshore wind capacity near the Eskdalemuir seismic array in Scotland

Up to 10 GW of offshore wind capacity will be unlocked as a result of government upgrades to air defence radars. 

Following close collaboration with industry, the government has bought specially designed air defence radars, which will mitigate against anomalies currently created by offshore wind farms.  

These new radars, which will be installed from early 2029, will keep the British people safe by maintaining the UK’s air defence capability. Radars like these are a crucial part of the UK’s air defence, enabling the detection and identification of incursions and threats within UK airspace. They can also coexist with new offshore wind farms, without risk of interference – supporting both national and energy security.  

This follows the biggest single procurement of offshore wind energy in British and European history, in which the government secured a record 8.4 GW of capacity – enough to power 12 million homes – at a price 40% lower than the cost of building and running a new gas power plant. By upgrading the radar systems, the government is ensuring that this record‑breaking offshore capacity can move from contract to construction. 

Energy Minister, Michael Shanks said:  

This new radar technology will unlock a key barrier holding back offshore wind farms, so that we can deliver the clean homegrown power needed to protect families from volatile fossil fuel markets, while bolstering our national security. 

Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP, said: 

We’re committed to investing in maintaining the UK’s national security. These new air defence radars will enable the Royal Air Force to monitor for potential attacks from adversaries and help our Armed Forces protect the UK. 

We’re making defence an engine for growth across the country with the largest sustained defence spending increase since the Cold War, reaching 2.6% of GDP from 2027.

Benj Sykes, OWIC Board Sponsor for Aviation and Defence, and Vice President and UK Country Manager for Ørsted, said:   

The Offshore Wind Industry Council welcomes the conclusion of procurement for a new air defence mitigation solution. This will ensure we are able to unlock over 10 gigawatts of wind energy by 2030, as well as billions of pounds of investment and thousands of jobs for the UK, without compromising our national defence. This is the culmination of a truly collaborative process over several years, with government and industry working in lockstep to deliver a solution that allows air defence and offshore wind to harmoniously co-exist.

This comes as the government today launches a consultation on unlocking up to 6 GW of onshore wind capacity near the Eskdalemuir seismic array in Scotland.  

The proposals would block on onshore wind within 15km of the array, while easing planning rules in the surrounding area between 15km and 50km. This will enable Eskdalemuir seismic array to continue its operations, while supporting national and energy security.  

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 26 January 2026.

Greater consumer protections introduced for heat network customers across Great Britain for the first time, supporting half a million consumers.

• New protections for homes and businesses on heat networks in England, Scotland, and Wales introduced for first time
• Ofgem appointed regulator and will be able to act on unfair price hikes and poor service
• Clearer, itemised billing and greater support for vulnerable customers
• More than £47 million for four new heat networks across the country

More than 500,000 heat network customers will be shielded from unfair energy price spikes as greater consumer protections are introduced for the first time across Great Britain. 

The previously unregulated industry will come under new rules to finally bring heat network customers across England, Scotland and Wales closer in line with people living on traditional gas and electricity connections, with Ofgem installed as regulator. 

Ofgem will have powers to act if a heat network operator puts up prices unfairly, and if an operator delivers a poor level of service, with compensation awarded to customers who suffer a service outage through the Energy Ombudsman.  

Homes and businesses on heat networks will receive clearer, itemised billing – with previous cases of customers being issued with an unexplained monthly charge – and there will be greater support for vulnerable customers. 

Some heat network customers have seen energy prices rises of up to 450% following the increase in gas prices. 

Other protections to be introduced include: 

• suppliers required to meet standards of conduct on how they treat consumers, covering customer service, engagement and being transparent and clear when sharing information 
• consumers will in future be provided with a heat supply agreement, similar to a contract, providing clear terms and conditions and advance notification of any changes to these
• vulnerable customers (elderly or those living with health conditions) added to a priority services register so if something goes wrong, they are top of the list to be reconnected
• vulnerable customers will also have new protections shielding them from the forced installation of pre-payment meters
• more transparency about how a customer’s heat network operates and who to contact if they have a complaint or maintenance issue 

Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey said: 

For too long customers on heat networks have been unprotected, being hit with unfair price rises and having to manage with hugely inconvenient service outages. 

It’s simply not good enough – and that is why from today, we’re giving Ofgem new powers to act and hold heat network suppliers operating a poor-quality service to account.  

Support is already available through the Energy Ombudsman, and I would encourage anyone with an ongoing issue with their heat network to get in touch with them and take advantage of these new consumer rights.

Heat networks are a way of heating multiple buildings from a central heating source – such as taking excess heat generated from a data centre or factory – to provide hot water and heating to connected properties through pipes. 

The systems provide communities with low-cost and efficient heat and will play a key role in the government’s mission to achieve clean power by 2030. 

That is why government is also announcing more than £47 million of funding through the Green Heat Network Fund to support the development of four heat network projects in Waterloo and Hounslow in London, Sunderland, and Media City in Salford. 

The project in Waterloo will take heat from the River Thames to supply connected buildings, while the Media City project will take heat from wastewater source heat pumps. 

Helena Charlton, Director of Heat Networks at Ofgem, said:  

Ofgem is committed to putting consumers first, and the beginning of heat network regulation marks an important step towards better protections. 

This change means customers will begin to benefit from stronger protections on billing, complaints, and support for those in vulnerable situations. Heat networks can deliver efficient, cost-effective heating – but there are instances where this is not the case. This framework will set important standards for consumers to rely on, backed up by our oversight.

Gillian Cooper, Director of Energy at Citizens Advice, said:

New protections for people who rely on heat networks are a pivotal moment. For too long, people on heat networks have faced gaps in support and fewer safeguards than households using gas or electricity.

But these changes will start to make a real difference, giving people more accurate billing, better debt support and clearer communication from their provider.

As the official advocate for heat network consumers in England and Wales, Citizens Advice is dedicated to providing tailored support through our specialist advice service. Our priority is clear: heat network consumers must get the same outcomes as other energy consumers, and our advice and representation will work to turn that tide.

Aaron Gould, interim CEO of ADE: Heat Networks, said:

After 15 years of talking about it, the wait is over. Today marks the turning point where consumer protection becomes a reality, derisking the investment we need to build a national clean heat system. Ofgem’s open, collaborative approach shows how far we’ve come. But this is just the start, the real work begins now to turn this framework into affordable, secure and low-carbon heat.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 26 January 2026.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband signs a historic clean energy security pact.

• Energy Secretary signs historic clean energy security pact – the Hamburg Declaration – with European leaders at the North Sea Summit in Hamburg to deliver major offshore wind projects in shared waters
• In an increasingly unstable world, UK and EU allies double down on clean power as route to energy sovereignty and abundance, protecting the British people and strengthening national security
• New partnership signed to secure 100 GW of joint offshore wind projects – powering homes and businesses across the continent – built jointly between UK and EU companies

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has today (Monday 26 January) signed a historic clean energy security pact – the Hamburg Declaration – with European allies to bolster energy security for families and businesses across the UK and Europe, in an era of global instability.

The deal will drive forward an unprecedented fleet of joint offshore wind projects between European countries, including Germany, Norway, France and Denmark, taking advantage of Europe’s shared abundant energy in the North Sea.

The UK and Europe stand together amid global headwinds, to reaffirm their commitment to clean, secure energy as the only route to escape the fossil fuel rollercoaster. The summit comes after the UK delivered a record-breaking offshore wind auction, unlocking 7,000 jobs and driving £22 billion of private sector investment into the UK’s factories and ports.

Three years ago, North Sea countries pledged to build 300 GW of offshore wind in the North Sea by 2050, in response to Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and weaponisation of Europe’s energy supplies.  
 
The deal agreed today means, for the first time, North Sea countries have agreed to deliver 100 GW of this offshore wind power through joint clean‑energy projects. These will include new ‘offshore wind hybrid assets’ — wind farms at sea that are directly connected to more than one country through interconnectors. This joint commitment is set out in the ‘Hamburg Declaration’, agreed today at the Future of the North Seas Summit. 

The Energy Secretary met European leaders to push forward plans to transform the North Sea into the world’s largest ‘clean energy reservoir’. The major summit brings together European leaders in Germany, France, Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark and Norway.

Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, said:   

We are standing up for our national interest by driving for clean energy, which can get the UK off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and give us energy sovereignty and abundance. 

After our record renewables auction, we today went further by signing a clean energy security pact with European allies to ensure we maximise the clean energy potential for the North Sea.

Industry are expected to respond to the pledge by unveiling ambitious plans for new projects. Interconnectors are crucial to Europe’s energy security, enabling countries in the North Sea to send clean power to where it’s needed most and end Europe’s reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets controlled by petrostates and dictators.  

The UK is leading the way on the pledge, earlier this month the delivery of its record-breaking auction secured 8.4 GW of offshore wind – the biggest ever auction in European history. This includes projects in the North Sea, setting a powerful example to European partners.  

Further key outcomes expected from the summit include:

• Interconnected offshore grid – the Energy Secretary signing a statement of intent with Germany, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands to unlock cross-border offshore electricity projects, focusing on joint planning, cost-sharing and market arrangements to speed up delivery
• Offshore Hybrid Assets – The UK agreeing a framework to deepen German and UK collaboration on offshore hybrid assets. These are advanced subsea energy infrastructure that combine offshore wind farm connections with electricity interconnectors. This would put UK firms at forefront of grid technology, unlocking export opportunities and boosting growth

Ben Wilson, President of National Grid Ventures, said: 

Today is a step towards a more integrated energy system in the North Seas. LionLink and projects like those being announced today are important for maximising the efficient use of resources, reducing costs, and minimising the impact on coastal communities. Collaboration on projects like these are key to delivering on more secure, affordable energy for British and European consumers.

Dhara Vyas, Chief Executive of Energy UK, said: 

The UK’s energy sector is fully behind the landmark efforts to be announced at the Hamburg North Sea Summit to transform the North Sea into a truly regional clean power hub. Delivering the goal of 100 GW of offshore cooperation projects by 2050 will require a relentless focus on maintaining the momentum of UK-EU alignment on electricity market coupling and ETS linkage.  

This deeper cooperation on supply chains, standardisation, and shared infrastructure is not just a strategic necessity, it is the most effective way to bring down energy costs for households and businesses while fuelling sustainable economic growth and high-value jobs for years to come.

Jane Cooper, Deputy Chief Executive of RenewableUK, said:  

This ambitious announcement to build a vast number of new offshore wind farms jointly with our European partners will increase the energy security of the UK and the whole of the North Sea region significantly. This historic declaration puts offshore wind right at the heart of Europe’s power system, with the UK leading the way.  

We are strengthening our security collaboration to ensure the North Sea’s critical energy infrastructure is protected from harm, so that we can continue to generate the huge quantities of clean power needed by the UK and our neighbours reliably at all times.

William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:   

It is essential for the UK’s energy security and economic growth that we co-operate more closely with our European allies to realise the full potential of the North Sea.  

The commitments set out in the Hamburg Declaration will deliver on that, allowing our businesses to work on joint projects on renewables, interconnectors and other vital energy infrastructure. The momentum from today’s Summit and Business Conference needs to be kept up.

Enrique Cornejo, Energy Policy Director, Offshore Energies UK, said: 

In an increasingly volatile world, this deal sets ambitious targets for UK and European offshore wind collaboration. 100 GW from such joint projects would become a major part of our shared North Sea energy mix, which will include oil, gas and also hydrogen for decades to come. Affordable and secure energy is key to the UK’s future and to those of our European partners. The future of the North Sea is in our hands.

Gus Jaspert, Managing Director, Marine at The Crown Estate, said:  

The UK’s offshore wind sector is a national success story and an engine of economic growth. It attracts billions in investment, supports tens of thousands of jobs across the country and each new turbine built boosts our energy security.  

As such we welcome opportunities for the UK to utilise its world-leading experience in offshore wind and work closely with international partners in the North Sea to collectively drive clean energy generation and enable greater energy security at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 14 January 2026.

A record 8.4GW of offshore wind secured in Europe’s biggest ever offshore wind auction.

• Record 8.4GW of offshore wind secured in Europe’s biggest ever offshore wind auction – enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of over 12 million homes
• as Britain races to cut bills and meet growing energy demand, price for offshore wind agreed at 40% lower than the cost of building and operating a new gas power plant
• puts the country firmly on track to deliver the mission for clean power by 2030, taking back control of its energy, and lowering bills for good
• successful results unlock £22 billion in private investment and supports 7,000 good, skilled jobs in every corner of the country – from the Scottish Highlands to the Celtic Sea

Britain has taken a monumental step towards ending the country’s reliance on volatile fossil fuels and lowering bills for good, by delivering a record-breaking offshore wind result in its latest renewables auction.  

The results deliver the biggest single procurement of offshore wind energy in British and  European history – confounding the global challenges facing the industry – a major vote of confidence in the UK’s new era of energy sovereignty and abundance.  

The government inherited the fiasco of the previous government’s failed Auction Round 5, in which not a single offshore wind project was secured. The last auction round, AR6, got the industry back on its feet. Now this auction round, known as Contracts for Difference AR7, has secured a record capacity of 8.4GW of offshore wind which will generate enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of 12 million homes. The ground-breaking result puts Britain firmly on track to achieve its clean power mission by 2030.

These results show offshore wind is cheaper to build and operate than new gas. In new figures published today using the LCOE industry metric, the cost of building and operating a new gas fired power station is £147 per megawatt hour. By contrast, the results for fixed offshore wind in today’s auction were £90.91 per megawatt hour on average – or £65.25 in the commonly used benchmark of 2012 prices – 40% cheaper than the cost of building and operating new gas. 

This auction will unlock around £22 billion in private investment, supporting around 7,000 jobs, bringing growth and good jobs to all regions of the country – and particularly to the country’s industrial heartlands. Clean power is also essential to tackle the climate crisis, the greatest long-term threat the country faces.  

Projects have won in every part of the United Kingdom – including fixed offshore wind in:  

• Dogger Bank South off the coast of Yorkshire and Norfolk Vanguard off East Anglia – two of the largest offshore wind farms in the world, supporting thousands of jobs
• Berwick Bank in the North Sea – the first new Scottish project since 2022 and the largest planned offshore wind project in the world
• and Awel Y Môr – the first Welsh project to win a contract in more than a decade

These results also represent major progress in our efforts to lead the world in the emerging technologies of the future, floating offshore wind. Winning projects include Erebus, in the Celtic Sea, and Pentland in Scotland, backed by pioneering investment from Great British Energy and the National Wealth Fund.  

The auction round has secured major infrastructure projects which will be drivers for growth and prosperity in local communities for decades to come. As Britain races to meet rising electricity demand, expected to more than double by 2050, and cut energy bills, these results and new analysis published today shows that offshore wind, alongside solar and onshore wind, remain cheaper to build and operate than gas generation.   

In an increasingly unstable world, by accelerating investment in homegrown clean power, the government is also reducing the UK’s exposure to volatile global fossil fuel markets, which have contributed to half of all recessions since the 1970s and in 2025 alone, saw prices spike over 15% within a week due to global price shocks after global instability in the Middle East. 

This announcement to build more clean, homegrown power follows measures in the budget to cut people’s energy bills, with the government removing an average £150 of costs off energy bills from April this year. 

Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband said:

With these results, Britain is taking back control of our energy sovereignty. This is a historic win for those who want Britain to stand on our own two feet, controlling our own energy rather than depending on markets controlled by petrostates and dictators.

It is a monumental step towards clean power by 2030 and the price secured in this auction is 40% lower than the alternative cost of building and operating a new gas plant.

Clean, homegrown, power is the right choice for this country to bring down bills for good and this auction will create thousands of jobs throughout Britain.

Head of Mission Control, Chris Stark said:

This is a stonking result for delivering on our mission for clean power by 2030. Amid global headwinds and pressures facing the offshore wind sector in recent years, we’ve secured a record amount of capacity at a competitive price for the consumer. 

We need more offshore wind to meet the increasing demand for electricity in the years ahead, this result powers us towards a future of clean, secure, energy abundance and less reliance on foreign imports.

Neil McDermott, CEO at the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC), said:

The results from this allocation round are a prime example of the Contracts for Difference mechanism’s greatest strengths, providing certainty for investors and supporting British jobs across the country. 

At LCCC, we’re proud of our role in managing these contracts, adding to our existing operational portfolio of more than 10 GW with an additional 25 GW in the pipeline, and providing stewardship of these projects for the next two decades.

Martin Pibworth, Chief Executive of SSE plc, said:

We are delighted Berwick Bank B has been successful in AR7 and has secured a CfD for 1.4GW of essential new low-carbon power for the UK at a competitive price for consumers. This milestone enables us to advance the project towards a final investment decision and reinforces our commitment at SSE to delivering sustainable growth and long-term value for society, for consumers and for our shareholders.

Markus Krebber, CEO of RWE AG, said:

We are delighted to have been successful in securing long-term offtake contracts for 5 projects in AR7. In addition, we are excited to join forces with KKR as our strategic partner in the Norfolk Vanguard East and Norfolk Vanguard West offshore wind projects. With the Dogger Bank South projects and our renowned partner Masdar, we are experiencing firsthand the value of strong partnerships and at Awel y Môr, we are proud to collaborate with Stadtwerke München and Siemens. With the successful outcome of AR7, and the agreed partnership with KKR, RWE has reached key milestones in executing its UK offshore wind development pipeline.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer at Masdar, said:

Securing Contracts for Difference for the DBS offshore wind farms reinforces Masdar’s long-term commitment to the United Kingdom and our growing role in the delivery of large-scale offshore wind capacity. These projects would contribute meaningfully to the resilience and decarbonisation of the UK energy system, while providing skilled jobs, supporting regional supply chains and offering sustained economic benefit. We look forward to working closely with the government, our partners and local stakeholders as the projects move into the next phase of development.

Rachel Solomon Williams, Executive Director at the Aldersgate Group, said:

The positive outcome of the AR7 auction, securing 8.4GW of clean energy, marks a welcome step forward in the UK’s energy transition. It sends a clear signal of business confidence in the UK as a destination for investment and provides a wider assurance to investors and developers at a critical moment for scaling up low-carbon power, strengthening energy security, and supporting economic growth.

Dhara Vyas, CEO of Energy UK, said:

Today’s auction results will deliver critical national infrastructure that will strengthen our energy security and deliver lower bills, as well as provide jobs, investment, and economic growth right across Great Britain.

It’s more important than ever that we invest in securing our future energy needs to meet the growing demand for power over the coming decades and provide the cheap, plentiful electricity essential to our economic growth. Offshore wind is crucial as part of our growing fleet of wind farms across the country, which reduced wholesale electricity costs by a third last year.

Ana Musat, Executive Director of Policy at RenewableUK, said:

This is a great result for Britain’s energy security and for hard-pressed billpayers, because these new offshore wind farms will generate the power we need at a lower cost than new gas or nuclear plants, and at a stable and predictable price.

The UK has made the right decision to roll out renewables at speed and at scale, giving our country greater energy security and protecting consumers against volatile global gas prices which caused the last energy crisis. Homegrown power is the best defence against geopolitical volatility, and this auction is a significant step forward towards energy independence.

Jennifer Beckwith, Senior Manager for Energy Transition at the CBI, said:

Against the backdrop of increasingly volatile global energy markets, securing the UK’s energy supply is a key national priority. These results mark a significant step on the journey towards achieving a more secure, resilient and cleaner energy mix for the years and decades ahead.

Accelerating low carbon power generation is core to the UK’s energy transition – a transformation that’s already delivering major economic benefits in terms of investment, jobs and growth across the country. Critical investments in Scotland and Wales demonstrate the strength of UK capability, with Berwick Bank set to become the largest planned offshore wind project in the world.

Gus Jaspert CMG, Managing Director for Marine at The Crown Estate, said:

Today’s AR7 results are another vote of confidence in the UK as the best market in the world for offshore wind. Securing over 8GW is a huge step forward in the UK’s global clean energy leadership, reducing our reliance on volatile fossil fuels and powering up a generation of affordable and homegrown clean energy.

Notes to editors

Research published today shows overall that renewables remain the cheapest form of electricity generation to build and operate – and the more renewables we build, the more often they will set the wholesale market price instead of gas.

Independent research confirms that renewables can drive down electricity prices, already having reduced wholesale electricity prices by up to a quarter – or around £25/MWh – in 2024 Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit analysis: Growth in British renewables cutting energy prices.

Strike prices for fixed bottom offshore wind is £91.20/MWh for England and Wales and £89.49/MWh for Scotland, coming out at a blended average of £90.91/MWh. The strike price for floating offshore wind is £216.46/MWh.

In the 2025 Iran-Israel conflict, wholesale gas prices spiked over 15% across a week. (ICIS – independent commodity intelligence services).

The original budget for fixed bottom offshore wind was £900 million and has been increased to £1.790 million. This follows careful consideration of the bids submitted by projects, with the budget increased to secure additional capacity that represents good value for households.

The homes powered estimate reflects the equivalent number of homes that could be powered based on an estimate of the annual generation from the capacity procured in AR7. It is not possible to continuously power a home through intermittent renewables – this capacity will work alongside the rest of the electricity system to power homes and businesses. The estimate is calculated using published subnational electricity consumption data  and technology specific load factor assumptions published in the CfD Allocation Round 7 contract allocation framework. The actual generation will vary based on site specific factors.

Investment figures are based on generation costs data published today for fixed bottom offshore wind only.

Jobs figure based on industry figures from Clean Industry Bonus applications.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 11 December 2025.

Grangemouth workers and the community will benefit from jobs and investment as UK government backs a new biotech project on the site.

• Scottish biotech company MiAlgae backed with up to £1.5 million to develop an innovative new project on the Grangemouth site, using byproducts from whisky distillation
• funding from UK government will help to support around 310 jobs over the next 5 years and help catalyse further investment into the site
• Grangemouth Investment Taskforce is working to identify more projects to help secure Grangemouth’s long-term industrial future

Grangemouth workers and the community will benefit from jobs and investment as the UK government backs a new biotech project with up to £1.5 million grant funding package.

Scottish company MiAlgae makes fish-free Omega 3 out of algae by repurposing whisky byproducts, with Grangemouth’s position in the Central Belt providing an ideal location to source by-products from Scotland’s distilleries.  

This environmentally friendly alternative to sourcing Omega 3 from fish oil is estimated to save 30 tonnes of fish for every tonne of algae produced. 

The first investment allocation from the Grangemouth Investment Taskforce will start creating new jobs on the site from next year, supporting around 310 jobs over the next five years and delivering an additional £53 million into the Scottish economy. 

As a condition of the grant funding, eligible Grangemouth workers will be given priority during recruitment, including a job interview guarantee. 

The funding aims to support the company’s plans to construct its first commercial-scale manufacturing facility, accelerate production and support research and development. The grant funding will also help catalyse further investment into the site and demonstrate its long-term potential. 

UK government Energy Minister Michael Shanks is expected to visit the site today (Thursday 11 December) as MiAlgae breaks ground on the new facility. 

The funding forms part of the Chancellor’s announcement at Budget of £14.5 million in funding to help transform Grangemouth into a low-carbon tech hub and deliver the jobs of the future. The funding is in addition to £200 million already pledged by the Prime Minister from the National Wealth Fund to unlock Grangemouth’s huge potential. 

Securing the first investment is a landmark moment as the Grangemouth Investment Taskforce works at pace to unlock more opportunities to bring a bright future to Grangemouth, with around 140 enquiries already received. This includes working closely with several other projects, with further announcements expected in the near future.    

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:

When we came into office there was no plan for Grangemouth. That’s why we quickly took action to secure the site’s long-term future, while supporting affected workers into new jobs.  

Today we’re taking another step forward as we back the first new project at the site, creating hundreds of new, decent jobs and attracting further investment in the area. 

This project, alongside the £200 million of funding pledged from the National Wealth Fund, is part of our clear strategy for Grangemouth’s industrial future. A strategy with workers, unions, businesses, and the wider community at its heart.

Douglas Martin, Founder and CEO of MiAlgae, said:  

Breaking ground at Grangemouth marks an exciting new chapter for MiAlgae. Our mission has always been to make a meaningful impact, tackling overfishing, reducing waste, and creating sustainable value from industrial by-products. This new facility is a huge step towards delivering that mission at scale, bringing new, high-quality green jobs to the local area, and helping Scotland lead the way in this exciting new biotech industry.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said:

This £1.5 million UK government investment will support MiAlgae’s innovative green technology and boost jobs and investment in Grangemouth.

The UK government is backing Grangemouth’s future with real investment and a clear plan. We promised to secure the site’s long-term future and create good jobs, and that’s exactly what we’re doing – supporting new industries, creating opportunities, and ensuring this site remains a vital part of Scotland’s industrial heartland for generations to come.

It is just one of many projects we are working to bring to the site. At the Budget the Chancellor announced £14.5 million for green industrial projects on the site.

Meanwhile, the UK and Scottish governments’  training guarantee, is continuing to support Grangemouth workers into new high-skilled jobs – already 296 workers have received one-to-support and 269 are currently taking part in or have completed training.

The UK and Scottish governments also signed the £100 million Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal in November 2024, to support the community by investing in local projects to create new opportunities for growth. 

Notes to editors 

The project will create around 130 direct full-time jobs at Grangemouth over the next 5 years, alongside supporting an additional 180 roles across Scotland.