Insider Brief
- The UK government will invest £300 million in offshore wind supply chains to boost domestic manufacturing and secure clean energy jobs.
- Funds will flow through Great British Energy and target components like floating offshore platforms and power transmission cables.
- The initiative is designed to attract billions in private investment, reduce dependence on imports, and reinforce Britain’s position in the global clean energy race.
The UK government is injecting £300 million into offshore wind supply chains as part of a broader push to make Britain a hub for clean energy manufacturing and investment.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the funding ahead of the Future of Energy Security summit in London, describing it as a foundational step in building a domestic industrial base for clean energy. The funds will flow through Great British Energy, the state-owned clean energy company established to spearhead the UK’s transition to net-zero. The goal is to mobilize billions in private investment, secure manufacturing jobs, and reduce reliance on imported components for offshore wind development, according to the government.
“Delivering the Plan for Change means winning the race for the clean energy jobs of the future, which will drive growth and help us reach clean power by 2030,” Starmer said in a government press release. He emphasized that this new funding is meant to attract global investors, create jobs for welders, electrician, and engineers while ensuring that the UK remains competitive in a rapidly evolving energy sector.
“Let my message to the world go out: come and build the clean energy future in Britain,” Starmer noted.
The money will be directed toward manufacturing components such as floating offshore platforms and power transmission cables. According to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, this is part of a broader industrial strategy designed to ensure that clean energy infrastructure is “built in Britain.”
The initial £300 million allocation is part of a larger £8.3 billion investment commitment for Great British Energy over the current parliamentary term. The strategy also aligns with recent private-sector pledges, with £43 billion in clean energy investments announced since July.
“We will work closely with businesses across the clean energy sector to get funding out as fast as possible and get projects off the ground,” Dan McGrail, interim CEO of Great British Energy, said.
We will work closely with businesses across the clean energy sector to get funding out as fast as possible and get projects off the ground.
Leaders from the European Union, United States, and other major economies are in London this week to attend the energy summit, co-hosted by the UK government and the International Energy Agency. Discussions are expected to cover energy security, resilience, and international cooperation on the clean energy transition.
“We support the government’s investment in the offshore wind sector to boost energy security and help maintain and create green jobs in the UK’s energy sector,” said Darren Davidson, Vice President of Siemens Energy UK&I. “The government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan was launched at our offshore wind blade factory Hull at the end of last year. Today’s announcement is another significant boost for the UK’s energy supply chain.”
Industry leaders welcomed the funding, pointing to its potential to expand domestic capacity and create jobs focused on turbine technology, substructures, environment services and cabling. Richard Sandford, Chair of the Offshore Wind Industry Council, said the support is crucial to developing the clean energy in the UK.
“This funding reflects the reality that aspiration needs to be backed with action when it comes to offshore wind supply chain development,” Sanford said.
Jane Cooper, Deputy CEO of RenewableUK, noted the funding’s importance amid global competition. “By nurturing existing UK companies, and ensuring we’re a competitive location for international investors, there’s an opportunity to triple our manufacturing capacity over the next decade, adding £25 billion to the UK economy and creating an additional 10,000 jobs in the supply chain,” she noted.
The plan includes a grant program allowing companies to apply for funding by demonstrating how they will contribute to long-term domestic production. The investment is expected to benefit regions historically tied to manufacturing and heavy industry, potentially revitalizing communities with new high-skilled jobs in the renewable sector.
