Green Growth: The Industries That Could Define Britain’s Next Decade

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.

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Offshore Wind

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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.

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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.

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The Industrial Opportunity

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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.

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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.

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Green Hydrogen

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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.

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