Towards net zero: doubling onshore, tripling solar and quadrupling offshore wind  

The importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources has been underlined by the UK’s new government. Doubling onshore wind, tripling solar, and quadrupling offshore wind energy by the end of the decade. A new state-backed clean energy company.  

Bold ambitions and commitments to invest in green technology are welcome and sorely needed. This is an important policy shift that will significantly increase clean power production.  

Yet, commentators across the energy sector and Westminster have raised their doubts. The ambitious decarbonisation drive faces key barriers, and many say it is unlikely at the current pace of development.   

Time is precious. Capitalising on the momentum generated by the election will be crucial to enacting the policy reform needed. At JERA Nex, we fully support the UK’s vision. This was an important factor in our decision to scale up our renewable energy capacity from our London base.  

So, what steps need to be taken to ensure that promise is unlocked by action?  

Uncertainty is a key area to address. The planning system for energy infrastructure requires a strategic overhaul to consider environmental, energy, and local community needs from the outset.  

Take project location, for example, where the availability of grid connections limits choice. Or offshore specifically, where, despite the recognition of the value of converting high-speed winds into clean energy, there is a clear need for new offshore grid infrastructure to facilitate developments.  

Resourcing challenges must also be considered. While there are skill shortages at present, there is a wealth of talent within the wider energy industry to draw from in the short term. Looking further ahead, there is a pressing need to train workers for the many net-zero jobs being created that are not direct replacements for existing roles.  

We look forward to playing our part in this as we expand both in the UK and globally, recruiting and training the talent that will drive the green transition.  

Another key battleground for the new government is increasing public engagement in decarbonization strategies. Net zero means reduced emissions, but it extends far beyond this. It is an opportunity to deliver long-term, sustainable value for our environment, society, and economy.  

Looking at communities from the ground up can help us understand and communicate how decarbonisation intersects with the things we value. Localised efforts can drive broader national progress. Net-zero transformation can create fresh opportunities for regional rejuvenation and prosperity.  

Offshore wind projects, for example, can help provide value to coastal communities by creating jobs – through projects themselves as well as the local supply chains that support them. The removal of the onshore wind freeze will also demand a step-change in manufacturing. The UK will not only need the industry to build solar and wind projects, but the workforce to operate and maintain a new generation of manufacturing facilities.  

Elsewhere, we’ve already seen the growth in solar PV job roles thanks to the RePowerEU initiative. SolarPower Europe’s latest EU jobs report revealed that the workforce grew by 39% by the end of 2022.  

In many ways, net zero and productivity are intertwined. Doubling onshore, tripling solar, and quadrupling offshore wind in the UK demands a huge scaling up of industry and relies on a renewed focus on innovation, skills, and progress.  

It’s welcome news, too, that an economic transition of this scale will require close collaboration with the private sector. A future where clean sources produce the majority of a country’s energy is one in which we wish to exist. In the words of Prime Minister Kier Starmer “the race has started. The work has begun.”  

We look forward to playing our role in scaling renewable energy through the deployment of wind, solar and battery storage technology. Together, we’re confident this is a race that can be won.