July 31, 2024: The UK government has announced a budget of over £1.5 billion dedicated to delivering homegrown clean energy projects and bolstering the UK’s energy security. This significant investment aims to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources, reduce the country’s dependence on imported energy, and enhance overall energy resilience.

The allocated funds will support a variety of clean energy initiatives, including the development of new wind farms, solar power plants, and other renewable energy infrastructures. The projects are expected to create thousands of jobs, stimulate economic growth, and contribute significantly to the UK’s target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

In addition to promoting renewable energy generation, the budget will also fund research and development in energy storage technologies and grid infrastructure improvements. These advancements are crucial for integrating renewable energy sources into the national grid and ensuring a stable and reliable energy supply.

In a publication by www.gov.uk, Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero of the United Kingdom announced the budget for this year’s renewable energy auction being increased by £500 million to over £1.5 billion - a record budget - helping build new green infrastructure as part of the mission to deliver clean power by 2030.

This includes £1.1 billion for offshore wind – the backbone of the UK’s clean energy mission –  which has more budget available than all of the previous auctions combined, sending a strong signal to industry to invest in UK waters.  

Energy Minister Michael Shanks added, "It is our mission for the UK to be more energy secure and to do that we need more renewable energy projects connected to the grid and powering our homes.  Increasing the budget by more than 50% will boost industry confidence to back clean energy, attracting cutting edge clean technologies to Britain as we accelerate to a decarbonised power sector by 2030.”

Following the budget increase, Allocation Round 6 (AR6) includes:

- £1.1 billion for offshore wind, a £300 million increase

- £185 million for established technologies like onshore wind and solar, a £65 million increase

- £270 million for emerging technologies such as floating offshore wind and tidal, a £165 million increase. This boost makes the AR6 budget seven times larger than that of Allocation Round 5 (AR5).

This move aligns with the government’s broader strategy to position the UK as a global leader in clean energy innovation and sustainability. By investing in domestic clean energy projects, the UK aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and provide a more sustainable and secure energy future for its citizens.