Britain was not always at the forefront of the clean energy transition. A decade ago, it was a significant fossil fuel producer, a major importer of continental gas, and deeply sceptical of the economics of renewable energy. The transformation since then has been remarkable.
Offshore Wind
The UK is the world's largest offshore wind market by installed capacity. This position was not accidental — it reflects decades of investment in the technology, the supply chain, and the regulatory frameworks needed to deploy it at scale.
The Crown Estate's most recent leasing round attracted record bids from developers including Orsted, SSE, and a new generation of entrants. The pipeline of projects currently in development or construction will, when completed, provide a substantial majority of UK electricity.
The Industrial Opportunity
The clean energy transition is not just an environmental story — it is an industrial opportunity. The supply chains for offshore wind turbines, electrolysers, battery systems, and grid infrastructure represent tens of billions in annual procurement.
Capturing a meaningful share of that procurement for UK manufacturers requires policy that goes beyond setting deployment targets. Industrial policy, skills investment, and long-term supply chain agreements with developers are all part of what is needed.
Green Hydrogen
The UK has world-class conditions for green hydrogen production: abundant renewable electricity, North Sea infrastructure that can be repurposed, and proximity to European industrial customers.
