On Tuesday, BusinessLDN was delighted to welcome Juergen Maier, Chair of Great British Energy, in conversation with John Dickie, kindly hosted by WSP, for a practical discussion about what Great British Energy is being set up to do – and what will matter most if it is to succeed.
From the outset, Juergen was clear that Great British Energy is intended to be a delivery body, not another layer of strategy. Its purpose is to move quickly, scale domestic clean power, and use public capital in ways that unlock much larger volumes of private investment.
He set out the scale of what the organisation aims to support: 15 GW of clean power by 2030, the mobilisation of £15bn of private capital, and the creation of around 10,000 jobs across the UK’s clean energy economy. The underlying goal, however, is not simply more energy generation. It is greater energy security, lower exposure to global volatility, and a stronger industrial base in clean energy technologies.
A recurring theme in the conversation with John was how Great British Energy intends to operate. Juergen emphasised that it is not designed to compete with markets, but to work alongside them – taking equity stakes where public capital can help projects reach scale faster, reduce early‑stage risk and crowd in private finance. In his words, success will depend less on grand announcements and more on whether capital is directed to the right places at speed.
That delivery mindset is also shaping the organisation itself. Juergen spoke about plans to build a 120‑strong team in the first year, reflecting the view that capability, commercial expertise, and pace will be as important as policy alignment.
When it comes to where investment will focus, the priorities are deliberately selective. The discussion highlighted floating offshore wind, hydrogen, and energy storage as areas where the UK can build long‑term advantage, alongside efforts to transition skills and assets from the oil and gas sector into clean energy roles. Rebuilding UK solar supply chains also featured as a way to strengthen resilience and reduce dependency on imports.
Juergen also placed real emphasis on community benefit and skills, not as an add‑on but as central to delivery. He reflected on the recently announced £1bn Local Power Plan, which is intended to support around 1,000 community energy schemes, ensuring local areas see tangible benefits from the transition. Expanding skills and training pathways was framed as essential if projects are to move from consent to construction at pace.
One useful comparator raised in the discussion was the community‑owned onshore wind turbine in Lawrence Weston, Bristol – the tallest in England – which was funded and developed by local residents to generate power for the grid and long‑term investment into the community. While not a London project, it is a practical example of what can be achieved when public frameworks, patient capital, and local leadership align, and of how community energy can deliver both infrastructure and social value when supported to overcome planning and early‑stage risk
The conversation did not shy away from constraints – particularly for London. While the capital does not generate much power itself, Juergen was clear that secure, affordable energy underpins London’s competitiveness, from housing delivery to the data centres that will support future growth. Grid capacity emerged as the most pressing barrier, with long connection times slowing development and clean energy projects alike. Tackling this will require faster progress on transmission, storage, and connection reform.
Stepping back, the wider context was clear. Clean energy is no longer just a climate objective – it is an economic and national security priority. If the UK gets this right, the opportunity is not only to decarbonise, but to lead in next‑generation energy and build a more resilient economy.
The challenge now sits firmly with delivery. Great British Energy has set out a clear direction; the test will be whether investment, infrastructure, skills, and regulation can move together quickly enough to turn ambition into power on the grid.