In a bold move to strengthen the UK’s position in the global clean energy race, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled a £300 million fast-tracked funding package aimed at developing Britain’s domestic offshore wind supply chain.
The investment, channelled through the state-owned Great British Energy, is set to bolster the country’s manufacturing of critical components such as floating wind platforms, cables, and other infrastructure essential to the offshore wind industry. The announcement comes ahead of a high-profile energy security summit in London, jointly hosted by the UK Government and the International Energy Agency.
Sir Keir emphasised that the funding signals a major step in delivering Labour’s clean energy commitments. “Winning the race for the clean energy jobs of the future is crucial to our growth and our path to clean power by 2030,” he said. “This investment will create skilled jobs, fortify our energy independence, and demonstrate to the world that Britain is open for green business.”
The Prime Minister called on international investors and developers to back Britain’s energy revolution. “Let my message to the world go out: come and build the clean energy future in Britain,” he urged.
The move is part of the Government’s wider £8.3 billion Great British Energy initiative and is expected to stimulate substantial private investment in domestic manufacturing facilities. Businesses will be invited to apply for grants, provided they can demonstrate long-term commitments to UK supply chains.
The funding aims to address the growing competition from international markets by ensuring Britain remains an attractive and viable destination for clean energy investment. The UK has set an ambitious target to power the majority of the nation with clean energy sources by the end of the decade.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband underscored the strategic importance of energy sovereignty. “Taking back control of our energy supply is vital to shield families and businesses from the volatility of global markets,” he said. “This Government is committed to making Britain a clean energy superpower – driving growth, jobs, and investment.”
Mr Miliband is also set to table an amendment to the Great British Energy Bill to ensure components like solar panels are not sourced from regions linked to forced labour, including parts of China. The measure is aimed at enhancing the ethical standards of Britain’s green industrial strategy.
Industry groups have welcomed the announcement. RenewableUK’s deputy chief executive, Jane Cooper, described the funding as “critical” to the UK’s ability to compete in the global offshore wind arena. “There’s an opportunity here to triple our manufacturing capacity, contribute £25 billion to the economy, and generate over 10,000 jobs in the next ten years,” she said.
The summit in London is drawing policymakers, investors, and industry leaders for two days of discussions on global energy resilience. Ministers including Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Investment Minister Baroness Poppy Gustafsson, and National Wealth Fund CEO John Flint will also participate.
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Environmental groups have responded with cautious optimism. Friends of the Earth’s Mike Childs welcomed the move but urged the Government to go further, calling for a legally binding target to make the UK a net exporter of renewable energy by 2050.
Energy UK’s Adam Berman said the announcement “reaffirms confidence in the UK’s clean energy supply chain,” while Kate Bell of the TUC praised the Government’s focus on “good jobs and domestic energy independence.”
Doug Parr of Greenpeace warned against backsliding on the Government’s green commitments. “Dependence on fossil fuels is why households are grappling with high energy bills,” he said. “The UK must not squander this opportunity to reshape its energy future around sustainability and affordability.”
As Britain accelerates towards a net-zero future, the £300 million funding injection is being hailed as a pivotal move to anchor clean energy investment at the heart of the country’s economic recovery and long-term energy strategy.
