Prime Minister, , has today (24 September)
announced Aberdeen as the new home of Great British Energy,
drawing on the city's world-leading engineering expertise to
kickstart a UK-wide clean energy revolution.
Announcing the location in his first speech to Labour
Party Conference as Prime Minister, said:
“We said GB Energy, our publicly-owned national champion, the
vehicle that will drive forward our mission on clean energy,
belonged in Scotland. And it does. But the truth is, it
could only really be based in one place in Scotland. So
today I can confirm that the future of British energy will be
powered, as it has been for decades, by the talent and skills of
the working people in the Granite City, with GB Energy based in
Aberdeen.
"This is how the work of change happens. A decisive mission-led
government, moving our country forward, step by step, focused on
a clear long-term plan. That first - we stabilise our
economy. Second - we fix the foundations. And third -
we build, with pride and determination. A Britain that belongs to
you.”
As the location of the new headquarters, Aberdeen will be at the
heart of the company's plans to scale up renewables to
boost energy independence, create skilled jobs across the UK and
to support economic growth.
Two additional sites will open in Edinburgh and Glasgow, once
Great British Energy is up and running, to benefit from local
skills and expertise. The company will be initially located in
government buildings across the cities, while permanent bases are
established.
This marks the next step to kickstart Great British Energy,
as part of its mission to become a clean energy
superpower. An interim Chief Executive will soon to be
appointed to take the lead on launching the new company and
building its Aberdeen base - along with the start-up Chair
Juergen Maier, former CEO of Siemens UK.
Within the first weeks of the new government, Labour took action
to introduce the Great British Energy Bill to Parliament and
together with Energy Secretary , the Prime Minister confirmed a new partnership with
The Crown Estate, to help accelerate new offshore wind farms. The
company - owned by the British people, for the British people -
will attract private investment in the UK's clean homegrown
power, backed by £8.3 billion in government funding over
this Parliament.
It comes alongside the biggest ever investment in offshore
wind from the government, as well as steps taken
to scrap the ban on onshore wind in England and Wales and
unblock the production of cheap solar energy.
Ends.
Notes to Editors
On 25 July, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published
the founding statement for Great British Energy here.
