The UK government is launching a £10 million initiative to support local energy projects across the country. Metro mayors will have the chance to bid for a portion of the funding, aimed at fostering renewable energy solutions that benefit communities.
This new move by Great British Energy (GB Energy) looks to address energy costs and job creation. The announcement, reported by Mirror, comes as part of broader efforts to empower local communities and promote cleaner energy sources.
Supporting Locally-Owned Renewable Energy Projects
The £10 million funding will be allocated to various clean energy projects, including rooftop solar panels, onshore wind farms, and hydropower schemes. The profits generated from these projects will be reinvested into the local community or used to reduce energy costs for residents. GB Energy’s chair, Jurgeon Maier, stated,
This fund will have an immediate impact as we roll out clean, homegrown energy projects, crowd in investment and create job opportunities across the country.
Examples of Current and Planned Projects
Several initiatives are already making an impact. For example, the Solar Together Consortium is working to deliver 240MW of solar power capacity across the West Midlands. In West Yorkshire, an effort to install 1,500 solar panels combined with battery storage in social housing is reducing bills and tackling fuel poverty.
These projects, alongside others, stand to benefit significantly from the new Great British Energy funding.
GB Energy’s national projects, such as the installation of solar panels on 200 schools and 200 NHS sites, are also contributing to major savings.
The initiative is expected to save hundreds of millions of pounds in energy costs, with savings reinvested to support educational and healthcare facilities. As Energy Secretary Ed Miliband put it, these efforts are providing
Power for pupils and patients. Parents at the school gate and patients in hospitals will experience the difference Great British Energy can make – Miliband said.
Key Support from Mayors Across the UK
Mayors from various regions have shown strong support for the initiative. Steve Rotheram, Mayor of Merseyside, emphasized the Liverpool City Region’s role at the forefront of the UK’s green industrial revolution. He noted that the partnership with GB Energy is another step toward
Taking back control of our energy and using it to power our communities.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, highlighted the Go Neutral programme, which is already delivering millions of pounds of investment in local renewable energy. This programme generates enough energy to power 5,500 homes.
Burnham expressed his readiness to take these projects to the next level, helping bring down costs and power more homes with homegrown energy.
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, stated that the partnership complements his greener schools programme and community energy task force, helping London achieve its ambitious goal of Net Zero by 2030. He added
This exciting partnership… means that we will be able to invest even more in innovative local clean power projects across the capital, lowering energy bills and creating good jobs
National and Regional Impact
The funding will also complement larger national projects. GB Energy’s involvement in projects like Mersey Tidal Power, the largest of its kind in the world, is expected to generate clean, predictable energy for 120 years.
In addition, the HyNet North West initiative has secured £22 billion in government investment to develop carbon capture and low-carbon hydrogen, creating 4,000 jobs while helping decarbonize heavy industry.
The West of England is also seeing progress, with communities already building the country’s largest onshore wind turbine, which powers a local charity and thousands of homes.
Dan Norris, Mayor of the West of England, emphasized that GB Energy’s involvement will turbo-charge renewable power in the region, attract more investment, and create decent-paying jobs while saving money on people’s energy bills.
The Political and Economic Context
This initiative is part of a broader push by the Labour Party to transition to a more localized and sustainable energy system, focusing on public ownership and benefiting local communities instead of private shareholders.
Labour’s Great British Energy is seen as a game-changer, aiming to replace expensive energy imports with homegrown power, cut energy bills, and generate jobs. The program is aligned with the government’s Plan for Change, setting a clean power target by 2030.
The political shift towards public ownership is exemplified by Merseyrail, the publicly-owned train system in the Liverpool City Region, which is cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable because it’s run for passengers, not shareholders.
North Yorkshire’s Mayor, David Skaith, emphasised the goal of making the region carbon-negative by 2040, working closely with GB Energy to ensure the funding creates both economic growth and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
