On and off the political stage, hydrogen and renewable energy were firmly in the UK spotlight yesterday.

From Starmer’s rousing conference speech, whose centrepiece was the prospect of a new state-run Great Britain Energy Company, to the Hydrogen Zone, visible not only to passing delegates but also Newsnight audiences (it will also be on show at the Conservative conference in Birmingham in October), the momentum in hydrogen is building.

Energy security, rising prices, supply pressures, economic uncertainty and decarbonisation targets present a worrying backdrop like never before, and Starmer senses this is a moment, politically and strategically, for a country reset.

Unveiling his Green Prosperity Plan which aims to turn the UK into a ‘green growth superpower’, he said, “Clean energy is already cheaper than fossil fuels. Nine times cheaper. We just need more of it.”

But rolling out more clean energy is one thing, weaning ourselves off fossil fuels quite another. Is it realistic to aim for 100% clean power in just eight years, as Starmer forecasts?

He acknowledged it would take a huge national effort, and be a “tough battle” in terms of planning and regulation, but the target would be to double Britain’s onshore wind capacity, treble solar power, quadruple offshore wind, and see more investment in hydrogen, carbon capture, green steel production, gigafactories, tidal and nuclear. All while racing to insulate 19m homes.

“Let’s get clean hydrogen energy in South Yorkshire, in the East of England, across the river in the Wirral,” he said. “Offshore wind in Scotland, Teesside, East and North Yorkshire. Solar power growing rural communities, in the South East, South West and Midlands.”

The renewables push would generate “a million” new jobs, with training for plumbers, electricians, engineers, software designers, technicians, builders. “And it will all start within the first 100 days of a new Labour government,” he pledged. It would be funded through the £8.3bn National Wealth Fund.

UK energy ownership would fundamentally pivot. “We won’t make the mistake the Tories made with North Sea oil and gas back in the 1980s where they frittered away the wealth from our national resources,” he added.

“Just look at what’s happening at the moment. The largest onshore wind farm in Wales. Who owns it? Sweden. Energy bills in Swansea are paying for schools and hospitals in Stockholm. The Chinese Communist Party has a stake in our nuclear industry. And five million people in Britain pay their bills to an energy company owned by France.” The idea is the Great Britain Energy Company will eventually be the same size as EDF.

Ed Miliband, Shadow Secretary of State and Climate Change and Net Zero, said half of UK wind assets are owned by foreign governments.

“They come and invest here and build supply chains in their countries, not in ours,” he said. “So the role of GB Energy is to invest in things like hydrogen, floating offshore wind, and other technologies to build our industry here. It’s not going to crowd out the private investment – there’s so much of this to go round – but we want to be a substantial player in the market. GB Energy will have to compete on the Contracts for Difference (CFD).”

The road to net-zero is no longer one of stern, austere, self-denial but at the heart of modern, 21st century aspiration, Starmer added.

“Technology has turned everything on its head. Green and growth don’t just go together – they’re inseparable. The future wealth of this country is in our air, in our seas, in our skies. Britain should harness that wealth and share it with all.”

Engaging local authorities, cutting energy bills and accelerating insulation 

UK100 Chief Executive, Polly Billington, said while plans for a Great British Energy Company were warmly received at the Labour Party conference, the public will want more details on how exactly it will work to reduce their bills.

“At the moment, Britain is paying the price of successive governments kicking the can down the road and not making our homes fit for the future. The cheapest energy is the energy we don’t use, but this has been overlooked time and again. To avoid another winter like this one, where millions are expected to fall into fuel poverty, we need an energy efficiency revolution.

A new publically owned energy company is a bold idea designed to grab headlines, but the details are scant and there’s no mention of the vital role of local authorities, she added.

“We’re calling for a locally-led drive on energy efficiency to permanently reduce household bills and accelerate progress on Net Zero. It might not be headline-grabbing, but people don’t want soundbites, they just want to be able to afford to pay their bills. If the Labour Party is to deliver on its energy promises, it’s time to end the wait and insulate.”

Responding to Labour’s strategy, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “This is a big, bold move that will cut bills and secure our energy future. This new national energy champion can provide high-quality jobs to every corner of the UK. And it’s about time the public shared in the profits of British energy.”