A neutral explainer on the UK's Clean Power 2030 plan, Great British Energy and the Clean Energy Jobs Plan, and what they could mean for energy jobs and skills.
The policies in brief
Two government initiatives are shaping much of the hiring in the UK energy sector: the Clean Power 2030 mission and Great British Energy, the publicly owned energy company. Alongside them, the Clean Energy Jobs Plan sets out how the government expects the workforce to grow.
This article explains what each one involves, based on official publications as at October 2026, and what they could mean for people looking for work. Government plans can change through spending decisions, planning outcomes, market conditions and future elections, so treat the details as the current position rather than a fixed outcome.
What Clean Power 2030 involves
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan in December 2024. It defines clean power as clean sources producing at least as much power as Great Britain consumes in a typical weather year, and at least 95% of the electricity generated in Great Britain. Unabated gas would move to a back-up role, with gas plants kept available for security of supply.
The plan sets out ranges for what needs to be in place by 2030, including:
| Technology | 2030 range in the plan |
|---|---|
| Offshore wind | 43–50 GW |
| Onshore wind | 27–29 GW |
| Solar | 45–47 GW |
| Battery storage | 23–27 GW |
It also says roughly twice as much new transmission infrastructure is needed by 2030 as was built in the previous decade, and it identifies a list of network projects as essential. Reforming the queue for grid connections, so that projects ready to build are connected first, is another central part of the plan. The full document is available on the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan page on GOV.UK.
Progress so far
Results of the seventh Contracts for Difference auction, published in early 2026, awarded contracts to new offshore wind projects, including floating offshore wind, followed by separate results for onshore wind and solar. The next auction, Allocation Round 8, is under way, with further milestones expected before the end of 2026.
Officials have acknowledged that delivery has entered its hardest phase. Some independent analyses have suggested the 2030 targets may not be met in full, while the government has kept the mission as its stated goal. Grid connection reform and planning remain the areas most often identified as determining the pace of progress.
What Great British Energy is
Great British Energy is a publicly owned, operationally independent company set up under the Great British Energy Act 2025, which received Royal Assent in May 2025. Its headquarters are in Aberdeen, and a permanent home at Marischal Square in the city centre was announced in February 2026. Its purposes under the Act include producing, distributing, storing and supplying clean energy, improving energy efficiency and supporting security of supply.
The government says Great British Energy and Great British Energy – Nuclear will invest more than £8.3 billion over this Parliament. Great British Energy's first strategic plan, published in December 2025, includes:
- delivering at least 15 GW of clean generation and storage and mobilising private finance alongside public money
- funding projects that support at least 10,000 jobs by 2030, including in areas historically dependent on oil and gas
- a supply chain programme to build more clean energy manufacturing in the UK
- using public land for solar, onshore wind and storage, and a focus on deepwater offshore wind in Scotland and the Celtic Sea
- support for local and community energy, set out in more detail in a Local Power Plan published in February 2026
It is also funding rooftop solar on schools and NHS sites with the government.
The Clean Energy Jobs Plan
In October 2025 the government published its first Clean Energy Jobs Plan. It projects that employment in clean energy industries could roughly double by 2030, and it identifies 31 priority occupations, including electricians, plumbers, welders and engineers.
Measures announced in the plan include five new clean energy Technical Excellence Colleges, regional skills pilots in areas including Cheshire and Lincolnshire, an expanded energy skills passport to help oil and gas workers move into roles in renewables, nuclear and networks, and a pilot linking veterans and service leavers with clean energy careers in the East of England. The UK and Scottish governments also committed funding for training to support North Sea workers moving into new roles.
What this means for jobs and skills
Trades and technicians
Much of the work behind these plans is physical construction and maintenance. Electricians, welders, pipefitters, cable jointers, overhead linespeople, substation fitters, wind turbine technicians and plant operators are all needed across generation and networks. If you hold these trades, expect continued demand, particularly if you have current safety tickets and authorisations.
Engineers and project professionals
Grid expansion and new generation require electrical, civil and mechanical engineers, protection and control specialists, network planners and commissioning engineers. Project managers, planners, cost engineers, consents specialists and procurement staff are also needed to deliver large programmes on time.
Development, finance and community energy
The focus on local energy and supply chains could create roles in project development, community engagement, grant and investment management, and manufacturing. Public bodies and councils may play a larger part as partners in local projects.
Where the work may be
Offshore wind work is concentrated around east coast and Scottish ports, with floating wind development under way in the Celtic Sea. Major grid projects run through Scotland, the North of England and the East of England. Aberdeen's role as the home of Great British Energy reinforces its position as an energy employment centre as the oil and gas sector changes.
Moving from oil and gas
The Clean Power 2030 plan notes high transferability between oil and gas skills and offshore renewables. Many offshore certificates, safety practices and engineering skills carry across, and the expanded skills passport is intended to make those moves easier.
What to watch next
Key things to follow include the outcome of Allocation Round 8, progress on grid connection reform, planning decisions on major projects, the rollout of Great British Energy's funding programmes and the opening of the new Technical Excellence Colleges. Each will influence where and when jobs appear.
To see what employers are recruiting for now, browse offshore wind roles and grid and utilities jobs, or look at energy jobs in Aberdeen.
Questions people ask
What does Clean Power 2030 mean in practice?
Under the government's definition, clean sources would produce at least as much power as Great Britain uses in a typical weather year and at least 95% of the electricity generated in Great Britain by 2030, with gas plants kept as back-up. It relies on large increases in wind, solar, storage and grid capacity.
Is Great British Energy recruiting?
Great British Energy has been building its own team, based mainly in Aberdeen, and lists vacancies on its official careers pages. Many more jobs are likely to come through the projects it funds, which are delivered by developers, contractors and community organisations.
Could these plans change?
Yes. Targets, funding and timelines can change through spending reviews, planning decisions, market conditions and future elections. Check the latest official publications on GOV.UK before making career decisions based on a particular policy.
