The UK is doubling down on accelerating clean energy rollout as it aims to boost homegrown electricity production to reduce the influence of volatile natural gas prices on power bills, the government said on Tuesday.
The Labour government is unveiling today measures to better protect households from energy crises, by moving to break link between gas and electricity prices.
The government will drive forward plans to “massively expand renewables” across the Public Estate – including using brownfield land, industrial sites, and railway sites to host solar panels and wind turbines. This could unlock up to 10 gigawatts (GW) of capacity, even using only a fraction of government land, powering the equivalent of around 5 million UK homes.
The UK will also aim to streamline outdated rules to unblock the grid and speed up clean, homegrown power, through the biggest overhaul of planning, land access, and grid connection processes since the start of the current government’s clean energy mission. The authorities look to cut delays for essential grid upgrades and renewables, and explore new routes for developers to build and connect their projects faster.
The government will also introduce this year voluntary long-term fixed contracts to existing low-carbon generators not on fixed-price contracts – covering around a third of Britain’s power supply.
During the current oil and gas supply crisis, the UK saw record wind power generation in the first quarter of 2026 and a new daily record in wind power output set on March 25.
Nevertheless, with about a third of its electricity generation typically coming from gas-fired power plants, the UK is feeling the energy shock after oil and gas prices soared in the month since the war in Iran began.
“As we face the second fossil fuel shock in less than five years, the lesson for our country is clear: The era of fossil fuel security is over, and the era of clean energy security must come of age,” Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said, commenting on Tuesday’s announcement.
“That’s why we’re doubling down on clean power, to give our country energy security and bring down bills for good.”
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
- Pakistan Is Now Paying a Record Premium for Fuel Imports
- Tankers Test Hormuz Passage as Ceasefire Deadline Looms
- India’s Crude Imports Sink Despite Record Russian Oil Buying
