Great British Energy

Great British Energy (GBE) is a publicly owned UK energy investment company created to support the country’s transition to a low-carbon electricity system. It is sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and operates at arm’s length from central government under the statutory framework established by the Great British Energy Act 2025. The company is headquartered at Marischal Square in Aberdeen, Scotland, reflecting the city’s long-standing role in the UK energy sector. The idea originated as a Labour Party policy proposal. Keir Starmer announced the concept at the Labour Party conference in September 2022, and the proposal became a central commitment in Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto. Parliament created the company through the Great British Energy Act 2025, which received royal assent on 15 May 2025. The legislation defines GBE as a publicly owned energy investment company rather than a conventional government department. It also provides that the company is not an agent or servant of the Crown and does not receive Crown immunities. GBE’s purpose is to invest in and co-develop clean-energy and energy-storage projects, work with private-sector developers, help build domestic supply chains and support local and community energy. Its remit spans renewable generation, including offshore wind, onshore wind, solar photovoltaic projects and potentially marine energy, together with storage and other low-carbon technologies. The intended operating model is that of a public investor and development partner: government capital is used where it can unlock commercially viable projects, attract private finance or help projects reach scale. GBE is intended to complement, rather than replace, existing electricity-market mechanisms such as Contracts for Difference and other public-finance programmes. Early initiatives included a partnership announced with The Crown Estate in July 2024. The partnership was designed to help accelerate clean-energy infrastructure and encourage private investment, particularly in the context of offshore development and seabed leasing. In 2025, government material described an initial programme involving rooftop solar installations for approximately 200 schools and approximately 200 NHS sites, with later activity extending the public-estate focus. GBE also announced a £10 million offer for partnerships with mayoral authorities to support local clean-power projects. The company is separate from Great British Energy–Nuclear, an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the same department. The two entities are nevertheless presented within a wider government energy programme and are backed, in combined government publications, by up to £8.3 billion over the parliamentary term elected in 2024. The Great British Energy Act permits government financial assistance in forms including grants, loans, guarantees, equity and contracts, subject to public-finance, subsidy-control and procurement requirements. GBE is accountable through ministerial strategic priorities, strategic plans, annual accounts laid before Parliament and periodic independent effectiveness reviews. The company’s first Statement of Strategic Priorities was published on 16 September 2025. Its long-term impact will depend on governance, project selection, consenting, grid connections, supply-chain capacity and its ability to crowd in private capital while demonstrating value for money. Debate has focused on whether its funding and mandate are sufficiently large and focused to affect energy security and consumer bills, and on how resources should be balanced between renewables, storage and nuclear activity.

Great British Energy began as a political proposal rather than an established commercial brand. Labour leader Keir Starmer introduced the idea at the party’s conference in September 2022, presenting a publicly owned energy company as a way to expand clean power, strengthen energy security and retain more economic value in the United Kingdom. The proposal was subsequently incorporated into Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto. After Labour formed the government in 2024, preparatory work moved toward a statutory institution. In July 2024, the government announced a partnership involving Great British Energy and The Crown Estate to support clean-energy infrastructure and encourage private investment. The same period saw the appointment of Jürgen Maier as start-up chair. Aberdeen was selected as the headquarters in September 2024, giving the organisation a base in a major UK energy centre and in Scotland. The Great British Energy Act 2025 received royal assent on 15 May 2025. The Act established GBE as a publicly owned energy investment company sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. It specifies the company’s objects, including clean-energy production, distribution, storage and supply; reducing emissions associated with fossil-fuel energy; supporting energy efficiency and security; and promoting appropriate supply-chain due diligence. It also establishes mechanisms for ministerial directions, financial assistance, parliamentary presentation of annual accounts and periodic independent reviews. During its formation, GBE developed a public-investor and co-developer model. Rather than operating primarily as a retail energy supplier, it is intended to participate in commercially viable infrastructure projects where public capital can unlock private investment, accelerate delivery or support strategic capabilities. Its scope includes offshore and onshore wind, solar, energy storage, community energy and related industrial supply chains. The company works within a broader UK framework involving The Crown Estate, Crown Estate Scotland, the National Energy System Operator, Ofgem and existing revenue-support arrangements. Early programmes focused on visible public-sector assets and local delivery. Government descriptions of the initial major project referred to rooftop solar for roughly 200 schools and roughly 200 NHS sites. GBE also developed a £10 million partnership offer for mayoral authorities to support local clean-power initiatives. These programmes positioned the organisation as both an infrastructure investor and a mechanism for distributing clean-energy benefits across regions and communities. GBE’s mandate is distinct from that of Great British Energy–Nuclear, which is a separate executive non-departmental public body responsible for supporting the civil nuclear programme. Government publications have nevertheless grouped the two bodies within an overall funding commitment of up to £8.3 billion during the parliamentary term elected in 2024. This relationship and the allocation of funds have generated public debate about the balance between renewable energy, storage, nuclear development and near-term consumer benefits. The company’s governance framework continued to develop through 2025. A start-up board was appointed in January, and three non-executive board members joined in September. The first Statement of Strategic Priorities was published on 16 September 2025. GBE must respond to that statement through its strategic planning while remaining subject to UK subsidy-control, procurement, consenting and grid-connection rules. Its future performance will be judged by the amount and speed of clean-energy capacity it helps deliver, the private capital it mobilises, the strength of domestic supply chains and whether it can provide demonstrable public value.

• 2025

  Great British Energy Act enacted

  [2]Great British Energy Act 2025legislation.gov.uk

  The legislation establishing the company received royal assent on 15 May.

• 2025

  Initial public-estate solar programme announced

  [1]Great British Energyen.wikipedia.org

  Early plans targeted rooftop solar for approximately 200 schools and 200 NHS sites.

• 2025

  First Statement of Strategic Priorities published

  [1]Great British Energyen.wikipedia.org

  The government published the strategic priorities that guide GBE’s strategic planning.

• 2024

  Policy included in Labour manifesto

  [4]Policy included in Labour manifestolabour.org.uk

  Great British Energy became a formal Labour general-election policy commitment.

• 2024

  Crown Estate partnership announced

  [1]Great British Energyen.wikipedia.org

  The government announced cooperation intended to accelerate clean-energy infrastructure and attract private investment.

• 2024

  Aberdeen headquarters selected

  [1]Great British Energyen.wikipedia.org

  Aberdeen was announced as Great British Energy’s headquarters.

• 2022

  Public proposal announced

  [1]Great British Energyen.wikipedia.org

  Keir Starmer announced the concept of Great British Energy at the Labour Party conference.

A publicly owned, arm’s-length UK energy investor and development partner intended to accelerate clean power, improve energy security, support regional economic development and attract private capital.

• Renewable energy · 2025

  Renewable-energy investments

  GBE can invest in or co-develop renewable-generation projects across the United Kingdom. The stated technology scope includes offshore wind, onshore wind, solar photovoltaic generation and, where appropriate, marine energy. Its role is primarily investment, development and partnership rather than consumer-facing electricity retail.

• Energy storage · 2025

  Energy-storage investments

  Energy storage is part of GBE’s clean-power remit because storage can improve system flexibility and allow variable renewable generation to be integrated more effectively. Potential activity may include co-investment or development support for commercially viable storage assets alongside existing UK market and regulatory schemes.

• Distributed solar · 2025

  Public-estate rooftop solar

  An early programme was described as targeting rooftop solar installations on approximately 200 schools and approximately 200 NHS sites. The initiative uses public buildings as platforms for distributed clean generation and is intended to demonstrate practical community and public-sector benefits.

• Community energy · 2025

  Local clean-power partnerships

  GBE announced a £10 million partnership offer for mayoral authorities to support local clean-power projects. The programme reflects the company’s remit to work with local institutions and help develop community-oriented energy infrastructure.

• 2025Public-estate solar programme

  United Kingdom

  The organisation promoted an initial programme for rooftop solar at schools and NHS sites.

  Outcome. The programme was presented as an early delivery initiative; the full completed deployment is not established in the supplied material.

  Source
• 2022Great British Energy policy campaign

  United Kingdom

  Labour introduced Great British Energy as a political proposal centred on public ownership, clean power and energy security.

  Outcome. The proposal became a manifesto commitment and was later implemented through legislation.

  Source

• 2025

  Prioritise clean power, storage and local energyStrategy

  Background

  The first Statement of Strategic Priorities set the policy direction for the newly established company.

  Action taken

  GBE was directed to consider the broad clean-energy technology spectrum, including renewables, storage, community energy and supply-chain development.

  Aftermath

  The company was required to respond through its strategic plan and operate alongside existing UK market-support mechanisms.

  Source

• 2024

  Adopt a public-investor and co-development modelStrategy

  Background

  The proposed company was intended to accelerate clean-energy delivery without functioning primarily as a conventional retail supplier.

  Action taken

  GBE was structured to invest in and co-develop projects, work with private capital and support supply chains and community energy.

  Aftermath

  Its mandate was formalised in the Great British Energy Act 2025 and subsequent strategic-priority documents.

  Source

1. 1Great British Energyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Great British Energy Act 2025legislation.gov.uk
3. 3UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zerogov.uk
4. 4Policy included in Labour manifestolabour.org.uk