Ed Miliband, the UK’s Energy Secretary, has reiterated his firm commitment to advancing a clean energy agenda, emphasising that the country’s reliance on fossil fuels remains its “energy Achilles heel.” Speaking at Energy UK’s annual conference, Miliband underscored the economic and strategic need to transition away from fossil fuels, which he described as a cause of high energy bills and price uncertainty due to global market volatility. He argued that renewables not only offer a cheaper and more stable energy future compared to new gas plants but also are essential for securing Britain’s energy independence and tackling the climate crisis.

Labour’s clean power agenda, which pledges nearly all of Britain’s electricity to come from renewables and nuclear by 2030, faces growing political opposition from the Conservatives and Reform UK, who advocate for maximising North Sea oil and gas extraction instead. Miliband acknowledged that while proponents of fossil fuels are entitled to their views, they underestimate the long-term costs and risks, including lost opportunities in the global clean energy market and setbacks in climate action. He also dismissed claims of a significant public backlash against green policies, stating that the British public broadly supports climate action and clean energy, provided it safeguards living standards.

Complementing this vision, the UK government introduced reforms in July 2025 to its Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme designed to accelerate clean energy projects, particularly offshore wind. These reforms extend contract lengths from 15 to 20 years for offshore and onshore wind and solar investments, offering greater financial certainty to developers and distributing costs more evenly for consumers. Energy Secretary Miliband highlighted that these changes would build investor confidence, facilitating the rapid expansion of offshore wind capacity from 15 GW to an anticipated 43-50 GW by 2030, a cornerstone in the UK’s green energy ambitions.

Further reinforcing this trajectory, Labour has promised to abolish the 2015 onshore wind ban if elected, with Miliband noting government bureaucracy has hampered renewable energy growth. Announced earlier in the year, this policy reversal aims to unlock significant clean energy potential and create a cleaner, more resilient power system by the end of the decade. Alongside this, the establishment of a publicly owned company, GB Energy, is part of Labour’s strategy to invest more robustly in clean energy infrastructure and accelerate the net-zero transition.

Miliband has also consistently reaffirmed the government's broader commitment to sustainability and energy security, linking clean energy expansion to the UK's ambitions to become a global leader in sustainable finance. At the London Climate Action Week, he urged large corporations to align their operations with the 1.5°C warming limit, signalling tighter reporting and accountability standards in the pursuit of net zero by 2050. He described investments in clean, domestic energy sources as critical for energy security and economic renewal.

The government has backed these ambitions with tangible milestones, such as approving the UK’s largest solar farm in Lincolnshire, highlighting the administration’s practical steps to boost renewable infrastructure. Additionally, Miliband chairs the Energy Mission Board, which targets immediate actions like scrapping the onshore wind ban, expanding solar production, and fostering major partnerships such as Great British Energy’s collaboration with The Crown Estate to fast-track the clean energy transition.

In a keynote at the Global Offshore Wind Conference 2025, Miliband outlined government initiatives to address barriers to clean energy development including reforms to planning processes, faster consenting of clean projects, grid connection improvements, and skills development to support sector growth. These concerted efforts aim to ensure clean energy projects power the equivalent of nearly 2 million homes, underscoring the scale and urgency of the UK's green transition.

Taken together, Miliband’s messaging and the UK government's policy agenda portray a determined push to position Britain as a clean energy superpower. This approach seeks to mitigate the economic and environmental vulnerabilities tied to fossil fuel dependence while fostering a future of lower bills, energy security, and global leadership in sustainability and innovation.

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Source: Noah Wire Services