Tag: Energy Security and Net Zero Department

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 7 April 2025.

Government and industry to train up ‘clean power army’ of apprentice engineers, welders, and technicians.

Young people will be trained to fill thousands of clean energy jobs and apprenticeships needed to deliver clean power by 2030 as part of the government’s Plan for Change to get Britain working and unlock growth.

The Energy Secretary has told industry, unions and trade bodies that the government will work with them to build a clean power army to hit ambitious targets for clean power by 2030 at a forum convened with the Work and Pensions Secretary today (Monday 7 April 2025).

The transition to clean power will create thousands of opportunities across the sector, from renewables to upgrading the UK’s grid infrastructure.

National Grid alone plans to support around 55,000 more jobs by the end of the decade and SSE Transmission plans are supporting a further 37,000 jobs, 17,500 of which would be in Scotland. Scottish Power’s SP Energy Networks plans to double its transmission workforce to create around 1,400 jobs and support a further 11,000 jobs across the UK – with all 3 plans subject to approvals by the regulator.

The government is driving forward with Regional Skills Pilot in the clean energy sector. Aberdeen, Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Pembrokeshire have all been identified as key growth regions for clean energy. Local partners will receive funding to identify the skills support that is needed in their area to deliver clean power by 2030, which will protect households and businesses from unstable fossil fuel markets for good.

Funding could go towards new training centres, courses or career advisers – supporting local people into opportunities in industries such as welding, electrical engineering, and construction.

The government is wasting no time in investing in good jobs for British industries, including thousands of new, skilled jobs being supported in the North East of England as contracts for the first carbon capture, usage and storage were signed in December, following a £21.7 billion commitment from the government to ensure the UK’s vision for CCUS becomes a reality. The government has also invested £55 million for port of Cromarty, to transform it into a major hub for the UK’s world-leading floating offshore wind industry, creating hundreds of skilled jobs and generating growth.

The latest CBI Economics figures show jobs supported by net zero sectors increased by 10% last year, with the average annual wage across the sector at £43,000 – £5,600 higher than the national average.

The push to support more clean energy jobs comes as the government delivers the most ambitious reforms of the UK’s energy system in a generation and record investment into homegrown clean energy projects.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

The energy sector has always been a source of good, skilled, and unionised jobs for young people across the UK, providing secure, well-paid employment for life.

To meet our target to reach clean power by 2030, we need a clean power army of engineers, welders and technicians – giving thousands of young people the opportunity to play a vital role in tackling the climate crisis, increasing our energy security and boosting the economy to deliver our Plan for Change.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said:

With almost a million young people neither earning nor learning it is vital that we give this generation the tools they need to seize the opportunity that is the clean energy transition.

Our plan to Get Britian Working will overhaul employment support, giving everyone the tools and skills they need to and build a stronger, more prosperous future for them and their families.

The government launched its Get Britain Working white paper late last year, outlining the biggest employment reforms in a generation and boost employment including reforming Jobcentres to create a genuinely public employment service so everyone can get personalised skills and employment support, as well as a Youth Guarantee ensuring every young person has the chance to earn or learn. Alongside government work to drive up employment and opportunities, the renewable sector will also continue to turbocharge the economy.

The government is working closely with employers to train up Britain’s young people to seize clean energy opportunities. Trade unions will also have an essential role in building the UK’s skilled energy workforce, with the government determined to drive world-class pay, terms, and conditions in the clean energy sector. The government is already driving better access and conditions for unions in the energy sector- since July EDF Renewables UK and Ireland have signed one of the first renewables industry recognition agreements with Prospect, Unite, GMB and UNISON.

The government has also launched Skills England and the Office for Clean Energy Jobs to bring together key partners to meet the skills needs of the next decade across all regions.

Opportunities are already being created through a number of schemes and initiatives to deliver training and skills for apprentices and workers transitioning from the fossil fuel sector, including innovative schemes such as the:

• Skills Passport: This supports oil and gas workers to identify routes into several roles in offshore wind including construction and maintenance
• Your Apprenticeship app: A new app designed by the government with extensive input from apprentices to provide easier access to essential tools, resources, and support to help apprentices to thrive in their qualification

Whilst driving up employment and opportunities, the renewable sector will also continue to turbocharge the economy.

CBI Economics analysis commissioned by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit shows that the net zero sector already contributes £83 billion annually to the UK economy, with further investment into projects predicted to grow this even further.

Government research has also revealed the extent in which apprenticeships can help drive this growth, with apprentices in England across the economy estimated to create £25 billion of economic growth over their lifetime.

Through investment and initiatives, the government will help build the pipeline of skilled workers needed to deliver clean power by 2030, which will unlock £40 billion of investment a year and reindustrialise Britain with thousands of good jobs across the country. This underscores the government’s commitment to deliver a jobs-rich clean energy transition, putting communities and trade unions at the heart of the UK’s clean energy future.

Notes to editors

Skills is a devolved policy area, and therefore the remit of Skills England and the Your Apprenticeship App will only cover England. However, Skills England will assess skills needs across the whole of the UK and DESNZ is working closely with the devolved governments on ensuring we have the skilled workforce for the clean energy transition, including through the Regional Skills Pilots.

The RIIO T3 business plans for the UK’s 3 electricity transmission companies are all subject to approval by the energy regulator Ofgem.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 7 April 2025.

A new wave of hydrogen powered projects have been shortlisted today to help cut emissions and create thousands of jobs in the UK’s industrial heartlands.

A new wave of hydrogen powered projects have been shortlisted today (Monday 7 April) to help cut emissions and create thousands of jobs in the UK’s industrial heartlands – driving growth as part of the government’s Plan for Change.

Twenty-seven hydrogen projects have been selected for the next stage of the Second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) – supporting low-carbon hydrogen production in the UK. The industry has the potential to attract over £1 billion of private sector investment into the UK by 2029, supporting the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower.

Hydrogen will help deliver a new era of clean energy across the UK and decarbonise emission-intensive industries. It has already attracted £400 million of private sector investment in towns and cities such as Milford Haven in Wales and High Marnham in Nottinghamshire, and is creating over 700 direct jobs in construction and operations.

Government support for hydrogen will help create thousands more jobs in the sector and reindustrialising the UK’s proud manufacturing regions. This includes roles for apprentices, graduates and technically trained professionals, such as engineers, welders, skilled construction workers, pipefitters and operations specialists.

Today’s shortlist includes projects that could use hydrogen to help tackle the climate crisis by decarbonising their manufacturing and industrial practices, including ammonia production, new clean power generation, glass manufacturing, brick making, and sustainable aviation fuel production.

Industry Minister Sarah Jones, said:

 We are deploying hydrogen at a commercial scale for the first time – not just investing in a technology – but investing in British jobs, our proud manufacturing communities and our energy security.

From distilleries and sustainable aviation fuel to public transport and clean energy  generation, hydrogen can power our everyday life and unlock clean energy growth across the country as part of our Plan for Change.

Green hydrogen is produced by using renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, resulting in a zero-carbon fuel that can be used for power generation, transport  and industrial processes.

This builds on the success of the First Hydrogen Allocation Round which saw 11 projects being allocated over £2 billion in government funding. One recipient, Whitelee Green Hydrogen in Scotland, will produce hydrogen for the Inchdairnie Whiskey distillery which intends to sustainably distil whisky by 2027.

Stretching across England, Scotland, and Wales, this latest wave of shortlisted HAR2 projects showcases the government’s commitment to create skilled jobs and establish clean energy hubs across Great Britain. The HAR2 shortlist could lead to projects that help support strong supply chains and the delivery of the clean energy superpower mission.

Dr Emma Guthrie, CEO of the Hydrogen Energy Association, said:

This much-anticipated announcement brings vital clarity to the UK’s hydrogen sector, providing a crucial boost for projects that will drive forward the country’s low-carbon transition.

The funding support offered through HAR2 gives our members and the wider industry the confidence to gear up for delivery, unlocking investment, creating jobs, and driving economic growth.

This is great news – not just for the hydrogen sector but for the UK’s ambition to become energy secure and a global leader in clean energy.

Clare Jackson, CEO of Hydrogen UK, said:

We’re thrilled to see many Hydrogen UK members succeed in the second Hydrogen Allocation Round, marking a crucial step for scaling electrolytic hydrogen.

This progress builds on valuable lessons from past rounds and strengthens UK leadership in clean energy – reinforcing the sector’s crucial role in economic growth and energy security.

Case studies

In December 2023, the government announced an initial 11 projects from the First Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR1), totalling 124 MW of production capacity.

Five of these projects have signed their contracts, including the Bradford Low Carbon project in Yorkshire and the Cromarty Hydrogen Project in northeast Scotland.

The Bradford Low Carbon project, in the heart of the city centre, will use renewable electricity to power a 10.6 MW alkaline electrolyser. Being developed by Hygen and Ryze, it will supply the mobility sector, including JCB diggers and Wrightbus – which developed the world’s first hydrogen powered bus.

The Cromarty Hydrogen Project is being developed by Scottish Power and Storegga. It will use electricity from nearby wind farms to power an 11 MW electrolyser, supplying hydrogen to local industries, including distilleries.

Notes to editors

The full list of shortlisted projects can be found here: Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 (HAR2): shortlisted projects.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 3 April 2025.

A first of its kind partnership between the government and private sector could see over £100 million invested into the UK’s growing fusion energy industry.

Today (3 April) the government has announced £20 million to kickstart ‘Starmaker One’ – a British private fusion investment fund that will help fusion businesses and start-ups in the sector grow and commercialise at scale.

It is expected the upfront investment will unlock further investment from the private sector as the fusion industry grows – helping cement the UK as a world leader in the technology and creating highly-skilled jobs.

Fusion uses the same process that powers the sun by combining two forms of hydrogen and heating them at extreme temperatures, releasing vast amounts of energy.

Companies in the UK have often identified lack of access to capital as a barrier to scaling up and commercialising their businesses. An injection of cash from government will give the private sector confidence to invest in fusion, developing its vast potential as an unlimited source of energy and ensuring the UK continues to compete in the global fusion race.

The funding boost will help small fusion companies provide training for their workforce in key areas such as physics, engineering and chemistry. It will also support companies to develop technologies and capitalise on the opportunities of fusion energy in markets such as magnetics, industrial AI, robotics, healthcare, transportation and energy storage.

Fusion already supports thousands of jobs in the UK, in regions such as Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and South Yorkshire, with thousands more to follow as the technology advances. Fusion is a key industry sector in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor with independent research from London Economics showing that every £1 invested in fusion it benefits the economy by nearly £4.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

This government is taking back control of Britain’s energy by driving for clean homegrown power through our Plan for Change.

Fusion has the potential to provide us with energy security, whilst attracting the best technologies to our shores and training up the next generation of British scientists and engineers.

We are backing both nuclear and fusion power, and today we take a step forward in growing this exciting industry.

Science Minister and Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor Champion, Lord Vallance said:

Fusion energy is a technology with enormous potential, and an industry in which the UK is already well established.    This investment will help to unlock the funding the fusion industry needs to grow, which will boost regions across the UK such as Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire, and in Culham in Oxfordshire, the epicentre of UK fusion.

Energy Minister Kerry McCarthy, said:

This investment is our Plan for Change in action – we are backing British pioneers to secure the clean energy of the future while supporting jobs today, from scientists and welders to engineers and construction managers.

As countries around the world recognise the huge potential of fusion, breakthroughs in this technology are happening thick and fast, and we want to keep the UK at the forefront of the global race by helping projects to innovate and grow here, in turn driving economic growth.

Investment in Starmaker One signals the first early-stage fusion energy venture capital fund outside the US and the first of its kind to partner with government as an investor. Investing in fusion technology will pave the way to delivering a clean safe, secure and abundant baseload energy, helping to meet rising energy demand in the years ahead.

This investment will give industry cash upfront to grow their businesses and supply chains. It follows on from a government commitment for a record level of £410 million, announced in January, for UK fusion research and collaboration with other countries to develop clean, unlimited power and drive economic growth.

Successful deployment of fusion energy would be globally transformative and allow the UK to export the technology to a global fusion market expected to be worth trillions of pounds in the future.

This notice is for information only and does not constitute an invitation to invest. The fund is not available to retail investors.

Notes for editors

• Starmaker One is a limited partnership in which the government is a cornerstone investor. The fund has potential to raise between £100 million and £150 million overall (including the £20 million from DESNZ) for investment into fusion-related technology
• East X Ventures will act as fund manager. Government will receive a share of any returns made by the partnership
• East X Ventures is the venture capital arm of East X, a London based quantitative systematic research and investment firm operating across global commodity markets.  East X Ventures invests in early-stage, science-led companies with high-growth, world-scale potential
• The funding comes from the government’s existing Research and Development budget for 2024/2025.

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

Hundreds of thousands of homes in England to benefit from energy efficiency upgrades, helping families stay warm and cut bills.

Up to 170,000 homes in England will benefit from energy efficiency upgrades as the rollout of the Warm Homes Plan gathers pace, helping more families lower their energy bills and improve their homes.

£1.8 billion in government support will from today (Tuesday 11 March) be allocated to local authorities and social housing providers, in a new boost which will support them to deliver warmer, more energy efficient homes in local communities across England.

This funding will be targeted towards low-income households and tenants living in social housing, with thousands of families set to receive energy performance and clean heating upgrades in the form of insulation, solar panels and heat pumps.

At a time when many are experiencing high energy bills driven by the UK’s reliance on international gas markets, this funding through the Warm Homes: Local Grant and the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund schemes could now help households save hundreds of pounds a year.

This move will help deliver a milestone of higher living standards in every part of the UK by the end of Parliament by boosting people’s Real Household Disposable Income – a key part of our Plan for Change.

Minister for Energy Consumers, Miatta Fahnbulleh, said:

Living in a warm, comfortable home should not be a luxury. It is a right that has been out of reach for too many people for too long.

By giving this funding to local authorities and social housing providers we are delivering on our promise to improve the homes of thousands of people across England.

As part of our Plan for Change, we are powering on with our Warm Homes Plan, upgrading cold and draughty homes so they are warmer, cleaner, and cheaper to live in.

The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund will deliver up to £1.29 billion of funding to 144 projects across England with the Warm Homes: Local Grant allocating £500 million to 73 projects across 270 local authorities over the next 3 years.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) will receive an allocation of this funding as part of the Warm Homes and Public Sector Decarbonisation Devolution Programme.

This funding complements the government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower, delivering energy security and bringing down bills for good.

The expected rise in the price cap shows once again the cost of remaining reliant on the unstable global fossil fuel markets that are driving price increases.

The funding allocations follows the recent announcement on the Warm Homes Discount with almost 3 million more households, including almost 1 million households with children, becoming eligible for £150 to pay their energy bills next winter, as the government consults on proposals to offer more support to consumers across the country.

This comes after other government support to deliver warmer, more energy efficient homes and protect consumers, including:

• consulting on plans to mandate private landlords in England and Wales to improve the energy performance of their properties by 2030, saving private renters £240 per year on average on their energy bills
• setting out a £500 million Winter Package with Energy UK to help customers with their energy bills
• extending the Household Support Fund to help vulnerable households with essential costs like food, energy, and water bills
• helping more families get a heat pump by almost doubling the budget for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme in the next financial year to £295 million, along with allocating an extra £55 million for the rest of this financial year. And removing the rule requiring heat pumps to be installed at least one metre from a property’s boundary

Kate Henderson, Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation, said:

We welcome this funding allocation to help decarbonise England’s social homes; a crucial step towards the government’s commitment to tackle fuel poverty.

With the fund oversubscribed, it is clear that there is both momentum and appetite among housing associations to upgrade their homes at scale and pace. The sector is working hard to ensure all their homes meet EPC C by 2030, in line with the government’s net zero target.

Decarbonising our homes is a win win for residents, the government and our planet, creating warmer homes, saving residents money and tackling the climate emergency.

Gavin Smart, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute for Housing (CIH), said:

We welcome this investment as another important step towards making homes warmer, healthier, and more affordable to run. Social landlords have worked hard to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, and this funding will help them to continue that work—supporting retrofit programmes that will reduce fuel poverty, lower carbon emissions, and bring down energy bills for tenants.

The strong demand for this funding highlights how vital energy efficiency investment is for the social housing sector. CIH will continue to work with government and our members to support the effective rollout of this funding and advocate for the long-term investment needed to make all homes warmer and safer.

Tracy Harrison, Chief Executive of the Northern Housing Consortium, said:

The North has lots of older, colder homes – with 1 in 5 built before 1919 and almost a million households currently in fuel poverty – so this Warm Homes investment will make a big difference to people’s lives. NHC members, including housing associations, local authorities and combined authorities across the North, are working to tackle this by installing tens of thousands of energy efficiency measures from heat pumps to home insulation.

This extra funding from government is very welcome and will boost these efforts, helping to cut carbon emissions, support jobs, cut fuel bills and tackle fuel poverty. We also welcome the move to devolve retrofit funding in the North through the allocation of funding to Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Integrated Settlement.

This will allow funding to better align with locally led plans for economic growth, training and skills provision, as well as support greater collaboration between housing providers in Greater Manchester. We know there is continuing appetite from our members to continue to make our homes more energy efficient.

Derek Horrocks, Chairman of Sustainable Energy UL, said:

With up to 170,000 households supported under today’s announcement, this will positively impact thousands of the most vulnerable in society through the creation of warmer, healthier, drier, and more affordable-to-heat homes.

Building on the success of previous energy efficiency programmes, the initiative will also drive significant investment in training and skills development, strengthening the workforce needed for the UK’s transition to net zero. Alongside safeguarding existing jobs, the plan will also generate thousands of new roles in the growing green economy and enable the supply chain to continue to invest in the sector for the long term with confidence.

The press release issued by the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero on 10 March 2025.

Dozens of clean energy projects will jump to the front of the queue for grid connections, through new measures in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

• Grid connections for the most important projects for clean power to be prioritised by 2030, replacing the archaic ‘first come, first served’ process
• Wait for new grid connections will be cut by up to seven years
• Measures include speeding up the construction of new energy infrastructure with targeted reforms to support planning decisions on at least 150 major projects this Parliament
• Delivering the government’s clean power mission and Plan for Change to drive growth, create jobs, and protect billpayers in every region across the country

Dozens of clean energy projects, including wind and solar power, will jump to the front of the queue for grid connections, as the government paves the way for a new era of clean electricity through the Plan for Change to achieve clean power by 2030.

The landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill will be formally introduced to Parliament this week, laying the groundwork for a new approach to prioritise new transmission infrastructure which will unlock growth with £200 billion of investment and protect households from the rollercoaster of fossil fuel markets.

Ready-to-go projects from solar farms to new factories currently face lengthy connection waits of up to 10 years due to an out of date connections process, creating uncertainty for communities and businesses, costing the taxpayer millions of pounds, and weakening the country’s energy security.

The flawed ‘first come, first served’ process is preventing viable infrastructure from being able to connect ahead of speculative projects clogging up the queue, and will be replaced by a ‘first ready, first connected’ system that prioritises the right homegrown clean power projects for quicker connections to build an energy system that can bring down bills for good.

For decades, developers, energy companies and businesses have been inundated with lengthy processes and planning delays that have acted as a barrier to growth, and the forthcoming Bill will set out how the delivery process for critical infrastructure will be streamlined.

Decisions for onshore and offshore wind, solar power, electricity grids, hydrogen, carbon capture and nuclear power stations will be fast-tracked to accelerate growth, creating thousands of new jobs, adding billions to the UK economy, and delivering more clean energy for people to heat and power their homes.

These changes will not only rollback planning delays to get Britain building but also deliver a more prosperous and energy secure future for the next generation, as part of the government’s Plan for Change to boost growth and living standards in every region across the country and put more money back into people’s pockets.

Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said:

“Time and again blockers have been allowed to halt progress at every turn which has weakened our energy security and left our country exposed to soaring energy bills for working people, families and businesses. This cannot and will not continue under my watch.

“Through our landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill we’re taking bold action to fix the broken planning system, paving the way for us to get Britain building more vital infrastructure so our children and grandchildren can grow up in a more energy secure world.

“This is just one of many steps we’re taking to deliver our Plan for Change for working people and families with a decade of national renewal, unleashing growth to boost living standards, slash everyday costs and increase prosperity for all.”

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

“The only way to get Britain off dependency on fossil fuel markets controlled by dictators is with clean homegrown power that we control.

“By taking on a broken planning system that puts the brakes on growth, this Government is driving forward with our clean energy superpower mission and Plan for change

“Every turbine, every solar panel, every cable we connect helps protect families and paves the way for a new era of clean energy for our country.”

New measures will speed up the approval process for nationally significant infrastructure projects by making consultation less burdensome, strengthening guidance to expert bodies and local authorities about their role in the process, and updating National Policy Statements at least every five years to reflect government priorities for infrastructure delivery.

This will support the government’s pledge to make planning decisions on at least 150 major infrastructure projects, including wind, solar, and hydrogen, in this Parliament – almost tripling the 57 decisions made in the previous Parliament and more than 130 made since 2011.

The government has already agreed 10 so far, including several energy projects such as six solar farms, amounting to nearly 3 gigawatts of new clean energy for the country.

A series of targeted reforms to accelerate growth and speed up the government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan will be brought forward in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. These include:

• People living within up to 500 metres of new pylons will get electricity bill discounts of up to £2,500 over 10 years to ensure those hosting critical grid infrastructure benefit from supporting the government’s mission to clean power by the end of this decade.
• Instructing Ofgem to deliver a ‘cap and floor’ scheme to unlock billions of pounds of investment in long duration electricity storage (LDES) to store renewable power and deliver the first major projects in four decades.
• Replacing street works licences with permits to accelerate the rollout of electric vehicle chargepoints and make it easier, cheaper, and faster to install on public roads and streets.
• Changes to the outdated planning rules for new clean electricity infrastructure in Scotland, such as onshore wind farms and pylons, cutting excessive and costly delays to the process while ensuring local voices are heard in applications.
• An extension to the generator commissioning period (GCC) from 18 to 27 months to reduce the number of offshore wind farms requiring exemptions when applying for licences to connect to onshore cables and substations.

Further changes will also be confirmed to the excessive rules around attempts to block major infrastructure through the courts with more unarguable cases thrown out, so nuclear plants and wind farms can be approved and built faster. This is on top of streamlining environment assessments to save developers time and money while boosting nature recovery and wildlife.

Note to editors:

• The government recently announced its commitment to deliver a new 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, providing more certainty for supply chains and helping to unlock private investment over the next decade for new housing, schools, hospitals, and public transport.
• New planning reforms unveiled this week will also support the government’s Plan for Change milestone to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years, recognising that more renewable energy and electricity networks are crucial to meeting this ambitious target.
• Working with Parliamentarians, the government will ensure a smooth and speedy delivery of the Bill to become law as soon as possible.
• Reforms to the grid connections queue are subject to a final approval by Ofgem. In February, Ofgem announced it is minded to approve the reforms.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 5 March 2025.

The government is consulting on plans to put the North Sea at the heart of Britain’s clean energy future and drive economic growth.

• UK government consults on plan to unleash the North Sea’s clean energy future and ensure prosperous and sustainable transition for oil and gas
• this plan backs industry to make North Sea a world-leader in offshore industries, such as hydrogen, carbon capture and wind, as part of the government’s clean energy superpower mission
• it also offers oil and gas industry long-term certainty on the fiscal landscape by ending the Energy Profits Levy and consulting on a new regime to boost investment in jobs and growth
• consultation gives certainty to industry about the lifespan of oil and gas projects by committing to maintain existing fields for their lifetime and work with business and communities on a managed transition, while implementing the commitment not to issue new licences to explore new fields

The government has today (Wednesday 5 March) launched a consultation that will put the North Sea – its communities, workers, businesses and supply chains – at the heart of Britain’s clean energy future to drive economic growth and deliver the Plan for Change.

This will support private investment into the technologies that will deliver the next generation of good jobs for North Sea workers, invest in local communities, cut carbon emissions and help the UK become energy secure.

The consultation sets out the next steps in the government’s overarching objective for the North Sea to make it a world leading example of an offshore clean energy industry, building on the UK’s world-class oil and gas heritage. In addition to maintaining existing oil and gas fields, and continuing ongoing domestic production, which have been critical to the UK’s energy system and will continue to play an important role for decades to come, the government wants to boost the economy through the expansion of clean technologies, protecting the country’s energy security in the process. To achieve this, the government needs to ensure the oil and gas industry and its workers can take advantage of a clean energy future.

Separately, HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs are confirming that the Energy Profits Levy will end in 2030. They are consulting on what a new regime could look like, to respond to any future shocks in oil and gas prices. The government will work closely with the sector and other stakeholders to develop an approach that protects jobs in existing and future industries and delivers a fair return for the nation, during times of unusually high prices. The government will ensure that the oil and gas industry has the long-term certainty it needs on the future fiscal landscape, helping to support investment and protect businesses and jobs now and for the future.

The government is committed to working with industry, communities, trade unions and wider organisations to develop a plan that will ensure a phased transition for the North Sea – creating tens of thousands more jobs in offshore renewables estimated by 2030.

The government recognises the call of workers and trade unions for a coordinated plan to protect good jobs, pay terms and conditions in the North Sea, and commits to shaping this plan with workers and unions.

The consultation also includes delivering the government’s commitment not to issue new licences to explore new oil and gas fields in the UK, in line with the science of what is required to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees. The consultation also engages with industry on how to manage existing fields, which will continue to make an important contribution during the clean energy transition, for the entirety of their lifespan.

This comes after the government has backed new investment into Scotland’s clean energy future, awarding £55.7 million to the Port of Cromarty Firth, securing critical facilities needed for the rapid development of new floating offshore wind farms and ensuring that they are built from the UK.

By sprinting to achieve this mission, the UK can take back control of its energy and protect both family and national finances from fossil fuel price spikes – with cleaner, affordable, homegrown power. As part of this, Britain must also reduce its dependency on oil and gas, which leaves consumers exposed to unstable global energy markets, as its price is set on international markets.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

The North Sea will be at the heart of Britain’s energy future. For decades, its workers, businesses and communities have helped power our country and our world.

Oil and gas production will continue to play an important role and, as the world embraces the drive to clean energy, the North Sea can power our Plan for Change and clean energy future in the decades ahead.

This consultation is about a dialogue with North Sea communities – businesses, trade unions, workers, environmental groups and communities – to develop a plan that enables us to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities of the years ahead.

Diversifying the North Sea industries while domestic production is managed for decades to come is key to protecting its jobs and investment in the long-term. Today’s consultation explores how to harness the North Sea’s existing infrastructure, natural assets and world-leading expertise to deploy new technologies – like hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and renewables – to create skilled jobs, meet the UK’s climate obligations, and make the UK a clean energy superpower.

It is estimated that the offshore renewables workforce, including offshore wind, CCUS and hydrogen, could increase to between 70,000 and 138,000 in 2030, Meanwhile, an up-and-running carbon capture industry alone is expected to add around £5 billion per year of gross value to the UK economy by 2050.

New proposals could also see changes to the role of North Sea Transition Authority, as the regulator of UK oil and gas, offshore hydrogen, and carbon storage industries. This includes ensuring the authority has the regulatory framework it needs to support the government’s vision for the long-term future of the North Sea and enable an orderly and prosperous transition to clean energy.

The government has already taken rapid steps in accelerating clean energy industries – with the biggest ever investment in offshore wind and up to £21.7 billion in funding over the next 25 years for carbon capture and storage and hydrogen projects. This comes alongside the launch of Great British Energy, headquartered in Aberdeen, and the creation of a National Wealth Fund, both of which will unlock significant investment in clean power projects across the UK and help create thousands of skilled jobs.

The government has also consulted on revised environmental guidance offshore oil and gas projects and will respond to give certainty to the industry and enable developers to resume applying for consents for already-licensed projects. This follows a Supreme Court ruling last year that requires regulators to consider the impact of burning oil and gas – known as scope 3 emissions – in the Environmental Impact Assessment for new projects.

Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, James Murray, said:

We are committed to working together with the sector on the future of the North Sea by providing the stability they need to keep investing and supporting jobs across the country while ensuring they make a fair contribution at times of unusually high prices.

Tania Kumar, Net Zero Director, CBI said:

The North Sea has long been a cornerstone of the UK’s energy sector and will continue to play a vital role in securing energy independence and transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Today’s consultations highlight the government’s commitment to a managed transition. Success hinges on our collaboration with communities, workers, and businesses to develop a practical plan.

Robust regulation and the pivotal role of the North Sea Transition Authority will be essential. The UK’s net zero economy is growing faster than the rest of the economy – the future is green growth and managing the transition away from fossil fuels to a clean energy future for the North Sea is vital to achieving it.

Dhara Vyas, CEO, Energy UK said:

Today’s announcement offers a positive step toward a just transition for offshore workers. The North Sea has been an engine of economic growth and energy security for the UK, but it’s critical to ensure pathways are available for offshore workers to transition to the low carbon industries of the future. The government has a sent a strong signal about the UK’s clean energy future, and the role the North Sea will continue to play in fostering clean technologies such as offshore wind, hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage. The clean energy mission can help ensure the North Sea’s best days are ahead of it, powering economic growth and enabling the UK to lead the way in the global clean industrial revolution.

David Whitehouse, Chief Executive, OEUK said:

The UK offshore energy industry, including its oil and gas sector, is responsible for thousands of jobs across Scotland and the UK, and today the government has committed to meaningful consultation on the long-term future of our North Sea. That is important and welcomed. Energy policy underpins our national security – how we build a clean energy future and leverage our proud heritage matters.

Today’s consultations, on both the critical role of the North Sea in the energy transition and how the taxation regime will respond to unusually high oil and gas prices, will help to begin to give certainty to investors and create a stable investment environment for years to come. We will continue to work with government and wider stakeholders to ensure a future North Sea which delivers economic growth and supports the communities that rely on this sector and workers across right and the UK.

Rachel Solomon Williams, Executive Director, Aldersgate Group said:

The private sector recognises the growth opportunity of the clean energy transition alongside the risks associated with investments that are incompatible with the 1.5C target. This consultation is an important step on the path to building a prosperous and resilient economy, with wider benefits across all regions of the UK. Investing in assets that risk becoming stranded is sustainable for neither the UK economy nor the environment – the government’s recognition of this position will contribute to resolving uncertainty and building private sector confidence for clean energy investments in the region.

The skills and expertise built over recent decades in the North Sea are invaluable. They are highly transferable for clean energy and other growth sectors, both directly and with further upskilling. We welcome the government’s announcement that it is ensuring that the North Sea transition makes best use of the strengths in the region, creating opportunities and jobs. Capturing this growth opportunity for the UK must ensure that the local communities and workers can play a role in future energy sectors. The right policy framework and engagement with industry and local communities can enable a transition to net zero emissions without deindustrialisation.

Dan McGrail, Chief Executive, RenewableUK said:

The biggest offshore wind farms in the world are being built in the North Sea and even more ambitious projects are being planned. Offshore wind is at the very heart of the government’s mission to reach clean power by 2030 and net zero by 2050, and the industry also offers the UK one of its biggest opportunities for job creation, industrial regeneration and economic growth.

The North Sea is already playing a crucial role in powering the UK and this is set to grow in the years ahead. A future focused on offshore wind isn’t just cleaner – it provides a more stable energy system for billpayers as we will be less exposed to volatile international fossil fuel prices. Offshore wind also offers opportunities for skilled workers from other industries to transfer into this dynamic and innovative sector.

Sue Ferns, Senior Deputy General Secretary, Prospect said:

As the UK moves away from oil and gas production as part of the commitment to meet Net Zero, it is critical that the creation of new good, unionised jobs in clean energy is at the heart of the government’s agenda.

This consultation is right to recognise this role of jobs, skills and communities in achieving a meaningful just transition, and we welcome the government’s commitment to work with trade unions and industry to make this a reality.

Delivering meaningful numbers of new jobs will also require bringing supply chains for the renewables sector on shore, something that will need the government’s industrial strategy to run in lock step with this plan.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 25 February 2025.

The government is bringing forward strengthened support for millions of households to help pay their energy bills next winter.

Almost 3 million more households, including almost 1 million households with children, would get support to pay their energy bills next winter, as the government consults on proposals to offer more support to consumers across the country.

Due to global gas price spikes this winter and the continued impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the energy regulator Ofgem has announced today (Tuesday 25 February) an increase in the energy price cap for April to June 2025. This price is set independently of the government, reflecting changes in wholesale prices and global markets.

In response, the government is acting to protect billpayers by consulting on the expansion of the Warm Home Discount, giving eligible households £150 off their energy bills. This would bring around 2.7 million households into the scheme – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to an estimated 6.1 million.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

This is worrying news for many families.

This government is determined to do everything we can to protect people from the grip of fossil fuel markets. Expanding the Warm Home Discount can help protect millions of families from rising energy bills, offering support to consumers across the country.

Alongside this, the way to deliver energy security and bring down bills for good is to deliver our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower- with homegrown clean power that we in Britain control.

The government will also work closely with Ofgem to accelerate proposals on a potential debt relief scheme, first consulted on last year, to target unsustainable debt built up during the energy crisis.

The proposed debt support scheme, alongside the Warm Home Discount, is an important first step to cut the costs of servicing bad debt, which is currently contributing to higher bills for all billpayers. Under these plans, the target would be to reduce the debt allowance to pre-crisis levels, with Ofgem estimating that these plans could lower these costs by £25 to £30 per year.

This additional support for households complements the government’s mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower, delivering energy security and bringing down bills for good. The expected rise in the price cap shows once again the cost of remaining reliant on the unstable global fossil fuel markets that are driving price increases. Three years on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, wholesale gas prices have now risen by 15% compared to the previous price cap period, which is directly affecting the cost of generating power and heating of homes. Moving to a power system based on homegrown, clean energy will reduce the UK’s reliance on volatile markets and protect billpayers.

To achieve this, government has set out the most ambitious reforms of the UK’s energy system in a generation. Within its first 8 months in office, the government has lifted the onshore wind ban, established Great British Energy, approved nearly 3 GW of solar, delivered a record-breaking renewables auction and kickstarted the carbon capture and hydrogen industries in the UK. Reforms to nuclear planning rules have also been introduced to clear a path for smaller, and easier to build nuclear reactors – helping to deliver energy security, grow the economy and deliver clean, cheap energy.

Ofgem CEO Jonathan Brearley said:

Energy debts that began during the energy crisis have reached record levels and without intervention will continue to grow. This puts families under huge stress and increases costs for all customers.

We’re developing plans that could give households with unmanageable debt the clean slate they need to move forward. We welcome the government’s support for these plans, and their plans to expand the Warm Home Discount, which will also offer financial help to nearly 3 million more households that need it most.

While the government presses on with the clean power mission, swift action has already been taken to shield energy consumers from high prices. These measures include:

• extended the Household Support Fund to provide help through local councils to struggling households with essential costs, including energy bills
• worked with energy suppliers to negotiate a £500 million winter support package for consumers
• rolled out the next steps of the Warm Homes Plan, which will upgrade 300,000 homes this financial year
• consulting on boosting living standards in the private rented sector by requiring all private landlords in England and Wales to meet Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C or equivalent in their properties by 2030, which will help a million renters out of fuel poverty
• announced a comprehensive review of the energy regulator Ofgem, empowering it to facilitate growth and innovation and become a stronger champion for consumers
• driving forward with pro-consumer reforms:
  • challenging unlawful back billing; taking action on inaccurate bills
  • driving the smart meter rollout
  • giving every family the option of a zero standing charge tariff, so they have more choice in how they pay for their energy
  • ensuring compensation for wrongful installation of prepayment meters

In addition, government has also moved quickly to protect working people from wider cost of living pressures, including:

• helping to keep prices down at the pumps by freezing fuel duty for an additional 12 months, saving motorists £3 billion in 2025 to 2026
• targeting support with the largest increase to the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit since it was introduced in 1976 – worth £41 a week
• capping the amount that can be deducted cut from Universal Credit payments when repaying short-term loans and debts, saving 1.2 million of the poorest families in the UK £420 a year on average
• through the government’s commitment to the Triple Lock, millions will see their State Pension rise by up to £1,900 over this parliament

Taken together, these reforms will help to improve the lives of working people and put more money in their pockets, secure home-grown energy and kickstart economic growth, as part of the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change. Through this ambitious programme, the government will deliver a decade of national renewal and fix the foundations of the country.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 21 February 2025.

Ambitious reforms to the government’s flagship renewables scheme will pave way for more projects to come online for clean power 2030 – helping build an energy system that can bring down bills for households and businesses for good.

Building on the success of last year’s AR6 round, which delivered a record-breaking 128 projects with 9.6 GW of capacity – enough to power around 11 million homes – the government is today (Friday 21 February) consulting on proposals to provide greater certainty to investors and a better deal for consumers, including:

• relaxing the eligibility criteria on planning consent for fixed-bottom offshore wind, helping to speed up new offshore wind farms coming
• changing how offshore wind budgets are set and published, enabling funding to be invested more efficiently
• increasing the Contracts for Difference contract term beyond the current 15 years, making renewables contracts more cost effective

The UK is already home to the 3 largest operational offshore wind farm projects in the world, but the UK must secure even more to deliver clean power by 2030. Today’s reforms set out plans to secure the additional offshore wind the UK needs at a good price, delivering value for money to UK bill-payers.

Electricity generated by renewables will be the backbone of the clean power system by 2030, and the Contracts for Difference scheme is vital to deploying enough renewables that will deliver the capacity targets set out in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan. This will get the UK off the rollercoaster of global fossil fuel markets while creating good jobs and driving economic growth.

The UK already has 30.7 GW of offshore wind either installed or committed, with a further 7.2 GW of capacity consented, against a target capacity range of 43 to 50 GW needed for clean power by 2030. These reforms will enable the UK to go further and faster to secure its position as a clean energy superpower.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

Last year, we celebrated delivering the most successful auction round in history – now we want to go even further.

British families and businesses are bearing the cost of the reliance on petrostates and dictators who set the price of gas on the global market.

Our bold new reforms will give developers the certainty they need to build clean energy in the UK, supporting our mission to become a clean energy superpower and bring down bills for good.

Neil McDermott, Chief Executive Officer of LCCC, said:

The CfD scheme has been instrumental in delivering low-carbon electricity to date. As we move towards the government’s 2030 Clean Power target, the CfD will play an even more significant role, maintaining GB’s position as a global leader in renewable energy.

The proposed changes outlined in the consultation published today include the repowering of existing onshore wind sites, enable floating offshore wind to scale up through phased CfDs and increasing the CfD contract term beyond the current 15 years.

Maintaining investor confidence is crucial to delivering Clean Power by 2030 and LCCC remains committed to ensuring any changes are implemented smoothly, helping to unlock further private investment in the sector.

These proposals are the latest actions taken by the government to deliver clean power by 2030 and support growth. The government announced the launch of the Clean Industry Bonus, incentivising offshore wind developers to invest in cleaner supply chains and create jobs in industrial communities.

The consultation on reforms to the Contracts for Difference scheme is open for 4 weeks until 21 March, with a government response expected ahead of the AR7 round.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 20 February 2025.

Dan McGrail has been appointed as the interim Chief Executive Officer of Great British Energy, to help drive forward the government’s Plan for Change and clean energy superpower mission.

Great British Energy is owned by the British people, for the British people, and will own and invest in clean energy projects across the UK to create good, skilled jobs and growth.

Dan McGrail is currently the Chief Executive of RenewableUK, the trade association for businesses developing wind, wave, tidal, storage and green hydrogen projects in the UK, and their supply chain companies. He currently sits on the board for WindEurope and was also previously CEO of Siemens Engines and Managing Director of Siemens Power Generation.

He will draw on his wealth of experience in clean energy including wind and thermal power to provide strong leadership and help rapidly scale up the new company so it can start delivering as quickly as possible.

This follows the appointment in January of five new non-executive directors to join Chair Juergen Maier on the company’s start-up board, bringing a wide range of experience across different sectors, with knowledge on workplace rights, building UK supply chains and driving investment in clean energy.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

With the appointment of Dan McGrail as interim CEO we now have a fantastic team in place to lead Great British Energy and start delivering on our Plan for Change.

Great British Energy is at the heart of our clean power mission, and will support thousands of well-paid jobs, drive growth and investment into our communities and deliver energy security for the British people.

I look forward to working with Dan as we unlock the benefits of a new era of clean electricity for the British people.

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said:

Homegrown, affordable clean power has never been more important and it’s a privilege to take up the role of interim CEO of Great British Energy at such a pivotal moment.

Together with the talented leadership team, I’m excited to hit the ground running to scale up the company and work with industry to unleash billions of investment in clean energy, helping to grow new industries at scale with job opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people, as well as helping the government achieve its clean power targets.

Start-up Great British Energy Chair Juergen Maier said:

Dan brings invaluable experience from a long career in clean energy and joins Great British Energy at a critical time to help spearhead our work to help make Britain energy independent.

I look forward to working with him to back innovation, create sustainable jobs, and grow our supply chains.

The Chair of RenewableUK’s Board of Directors Paul Cooley, Director of Offshore Wind at SSE Renewables, said:

I am delighted to support Dan in taking on the role of Interim CEO. He has the right combination of leadership skills and energy industry experience to take Great British Energy to its next stage of maturity and he has been an important driving force throughout his career in the sector. He has transformed RenewableUK into a leading voice in the industry and his appointment is a great vote of confidence in the work of the organisation. I am sure that he will establish a strategy at Great British Energy which enables our country to deliver on the amazing opportunities for economic growth and job creation which the clean power transition offers.

Dan will be based in Scotland, working from the Aberdeen headquarters, and will take up his post in March, on an initial 6-month contract, on secondment from RenewableUK. Recruitment for the permanent CEO will also begin shortly.

The government has already announced an unprecedented partnership between Great British Energy and The Crown Estate to unlock investment in clean energy, confirmed Aberdeen will host Great British Energy’s headquarters, and struck a deal with the Scottish Government for the company to work with Scottish public bodies to support clean energy supply chains. The government is also legislating through the Great British Energy Bill to give the company the powers it needs to rapidly deliver.

Great British Energy will support the government’s mission for clean power by 2030, with an action plan published in December to get more homegrown clean power to people and provide the foundation for the UK to build an energy system that can bring down bills for households and businesses for good.

Background

Dan McGrail took up his post as Chief Executive at RenewableUK in May 2021, and was previously CEO of Siemens Engines. He joined Siemens UK in 2004 and worked in a variety of roles across the energy industry, becoming CEO in 2017.

The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 13 February 2025.

Industrial heartlands and coastal areas will receive a major economic boost as the government backs renewable energy firms investing in industrial communities.

Industrial heartlands and coastal areas will receive a major economic boost as the government backs renewable energy firms investing in industrial communities – backing good jobs through the government’s Plan for Change.

The application window has opened for the Clean Industry Bonus, which provides financial support for offshore wind developers, on the condition they prioritise their investment in areas that need it most, including traditional oil and gas communities – supporting highly skilled jobs such as engineers, electricians or welders.

The support also rewards developers who build more sustainable low carbon factories, offshore wind blades, cables and ports to reduce industrial emissions across the clean energy supply chain.

By encouraging developers to use less polluting suppliers, the bonus will help tackle the climate crisis while also addressing supply chain blockages in renewable technologies driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – supporting industry on the transition to clean, secure, homegrown energy that Britain controls.

The UK produces more offshore wind than any other European country, making it the backbone for plans to deliver a clean power system by 2030 and become a clean energy superpower. This bonus will help accelerate the drive for clean power – incentivising developers to build the infrastructure the country needs to end reliance on unstable fossil fuel markets and help keep energy bills down for good.

Since July, the government has seen £34.8 billion of private investment into UK’s clean energy industries. In November, the government launched its carbon capture and storage industry supporting 4,000 jobs in the North West and Teesside. ScottishPower awarded a £1 billion turbine contract for its East Anglia TWO offshore windfarm to Siemens Gamesa, including blade production at its Hull blade factory – the company employ over 1,300 people in Humberside.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

We are backing our proud manufacturing, coastal and oil and gas communities with good jobs, skills and private sector investment – delivering on the government’s Plan for Change.

This is our clean energy superpower mission in action, kickstarting growth, delivering energy security and transforming towns and cities as part of the transition – from the ports of Nigg and Leith to the manufacturing hubs of Blyth and Hull.

Steve Foxley, Chief Executive of the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, said:

This news is an important signal from government to industry of intent to grow our offshore wind sector in a way that benefits both our climate and our economy, supporting expansive regional job creation and bolstering national energy security.

Alongside innovating to develop next-generation technologies, delivering the right levels of future deployment and fulfilling the ambitions of the Industrial Growth Plan for offshore wind, it will drive up confidence in our ability to secure the clean investments we need in the years to come.

Dan McGrail, CEO of RenewableUK, said:

The offshore wind industry already employs over 34,000 people in the UK, but there’s an opportunity to treble this number by the end of the decade if we grow the sector’s supply chain. Government initiatives like the Clean Industry Bonus, coupled with industry initiatives to support innovation and the upcoming Industrial Strategy, could drive hundreds of millions of pounds of private investment into new manufacturing.

Whilst we’re right to focus on securing investment in manufacturing new turbine foundations, blades and cables, we shouldn’t forget that there are also thousands of jobs in the construction and maintenance of wind farms too. You can go to places across the country like Grimsby and Great Yarmouth and Buckie on the Moray Firth and see boats full of engineers ensuring our wind farms operate at maximum efficiency.

Dhara Vyas, Energy UK, Chief Executive, said:

Offshore wind is set to become the backbone of a decarbonised power system. To build an industry that is resilient to supply chain challenges, we need a framework that supports sustainable deployment, while fostering investment in the UK’s industrial heartlands.

The Clean Industry Bonus will help to unlock economic growth, create job opportunities, and maintain the UK’s position as a global leader in offshore wind.

Alongside the development of a broader industrial strategy, the Clean Industry Bonus will play an important role in strengthening the Contracts for Difference mechanism. Clarity will be critical in ensuring we can deliver Allocation Round 7, which is likely to be the single most important auction to achieving the Clean Power goal.

The UK is already home to the world’s first floating offshore wind farm and has the highest deployment of offshore wind in Europe. As a result, the UK’s offshore wind industry is supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs across the country.

This latest boost for renewable developers comes after the government delivered the most successful renewables auction round in history last year, securing contracts for Europe’s largest and second largest offshore wind farm projects.

The bonus will come with an initial £27 million per gigawatt of offshore wind projects. That means if developers commit to 7-8 GW of offshore wind, up to £200 million of funding could be made available.

Funding will be allocated competitively with the results announced by the Energy Secretary in the summer.