The UK’s new Clean Energy Industries (CEI) Sector Plan puts onshore and offshore wind, nuclear, fusion, hydrogen, CCUS and heat-pumps at the heart of national growth, backed by a goal to double annual investment to more than £30 billion by 2035.
Although the plan – part of the government’s ten-year Industrial Strategy – spotlights these seven “frontier” markets, solar PV and energy storage are still classed as “vital” to the government’s mission to be a Clean Energy Superpower.
Indeed, just a day after publication of the government plans recently, Solar Power Portal noted that “much of the announced investment will benefit the whole clean-energy ecosystem, especially solar and storage.”
The government sees rooftop and ground-mount arrays, paired with batteries, as the fastest route to low-cost, low-carbon power.
The Net Zero Growth Plan has already confirmed a 70GW solar deployment target for 2035 and established a Solar Taskforce and roadmap.
SNRG’s SmartGrid platform – integrating onsite solar arrays, behind-the-meter batteries, private-wire networks, EV charging and AI-driven optimisation – is purpose-built to fit with the ambitions of the CEI Plan.
Let’s pick out some highlights of the CEI Plan:
- A new £1 billion Clean Energy Supply Chain fund, offering support to companies who have significant potential to grow supply chains.
- Launching a £4 billion British Business Bank Industrial Strategy Growth Capital scale-up and start-up financing package.
- Launching an expanded Office for Investment (OFI) to market the UK to investors around the world.
- Launching a ‘Connections Accelerator Service’ which will boost support for demand projects, including prioritising those that guarantee high quality jobs and bring the greatest economic value.
- Introducing a new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme by 2027 (consulted on shortly) – which will reduce electricity costs by c.£35-40/MWh up to 2030 and support thousands of businesses by looking to level GB electricity costs with other major economies in Europe.
- An increase in support for the most energy-intensive industries eligible for the British Industry Supercharger package, with an uplift of the Network Charging Compensation (NCC) scheme from 60% to 90%.
Relevant to the above are some key commitments from the overarching Industrial Strategy:
- Reducing the average pre-application period for major infrastructure projects from two years to 12 months by scrapping burdensome consultation requirements.
- Consulting on the expansion of permitted development rights to support specific building work.
- Streamlining processes for judicial reviews.
- Introducing a 13-week target for decisions made by ministers on called-in applications.
- Improving the responsiveness of Local Planning Authorities.
- Implementing a Nature Restoration Fund where developers can make a single payment to meet environmental obligations.
Government policy has moved firmly behind renewables and grid flexibility, and SNRG turns that drive into place-based power systems – designed, funded, built and operated for no upfront, or ongoing maintenance costs.
Find out more at oursnrg.com.
You can subscribe to SNRG’s Watt’s Next newsletter on LinkedIn here.
