What’s going on here?
This May 15th 2025, The UK Parliament passed the Great British Energy Bill establishing Great British Energy (GBE) as a publicly owned, operationally independent company. Headquartered in Aberdeen, GBE is tasked with accelerating the UK’s transition to clean energy. It’s doing this by investing in renewable technologies, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Backed by £8.3 billion in public funding, GBE aims to partner with private sectors and local communities to develop projects in wind, solar, nuclear and emerging technologies (such as floating offshore wind and hydrogen). Amid growing political backlash against net zero strategies from figures such as The US President Donald Trump and Nigel Farage, the UK’s Labour government has signalled its commitment to the energy transition with the launch of Great British Energy.
What does this mean?
The establishment of GBE signifies the Labour government’s ambition to assert the UK as a ‘clean energy superpower’, enhancing energy and economic security through the expansion of the UK’s ‘homegrown’ renewable energy sector. The initiative is expected to create thousands of jobs across the country and stimulate investments in infrastructure and technology. The Great British Energy Bill is also the first Bill under this Labour Parliament to receive legislative consent from all three devolved governments. Whilst the move to net zero appears politically divisive across the globe, the Labour government remains united on the energy transition. Unperturbed by virulent backlash against his energy policies, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is prepared to ‘bring on the fight’, with GBE possibly marking the start of more clean energy reform to come.
Why should we care?
The consensus approval of the GBE Act in Parliament signals Labour’s determination to maintain the energy transition at the heart of its broader growth mission Whilst figures, namely Tony Blair, are calling for more radical and urgent climate action, Labour remain resolute in their energy strategy, firmly placing the UK on course to align with net zero targets.
While the idea of net zero as a driver of economic growth is fading globally, the UK’s steadfast commitment offers hope that momentum in the fight against the climate crisis is still very much alive.
Be Curious!
- Read the Labour Government’s growth mission enabled through their ‘Plan for Change’
- Keep an eye out for Labour’s Spending Review set to be launched in June, laying out more information on GB Energy
- From the Curious Earth archives: Are green parties having a moment in Europe?
Feature image by James Newcombe, via Unsplash
