Caroline Bragg, Chief Executive, ADE:
“This funding is a tectonic shift, proof the UK is betting big on clean energy. Now we must ensure every pound we invest goes towards slashing bills. The Warm Homes Plan must harness waste heat from factories to warm communities through heat networks and the National Wealth Fund must prioritise projects that cut energy costs for industry.”

Ana Musat Director of Policy, Renewable UK:
“We welcome the Chancellor’s confirmation that Great British Energy will support the development of the UK’s offshore wind supply chain with £300 million of grant funding to attract private investment. This will help secure manufacturing facilities in coastal communities around the country, both for fixed-bottom offshore wind farms in which the UK has led the world, and innovative technologies such as floating offshore wind. The development of new port facilities will be crucial to enable this, so today’s confirmation of £80 million of investment in Port Talbot is particularly timely.
“The Chancellor’s announcement that the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport has been fully approved by the UK and Scottish Governments, with a focus on offshore wind, sends a clear signal that the energy transition is offering new opportunities for workers in parts of the country who have transferable skills from other areas within the energy sector. This is further demonstrated by her confirmation that the North East Scotland Investment Zone will be based in Aberdeenshire, focussing on floating wind and green hydrogen. We know green hydrogen provides vital flexibility to our energy system by enabling us to store clean power over long periods, to be used whenever it’s needed”.
“To realise the potential of these investments, which can deliver tens of thousands of new jobs and billions in private investment, it’s absolutely essential that the next clean energy auction for new projects, Allocation Round 7, should progress as soon as possible and that the auction regime should be confirmed without delay. The Government should also confirm that it will not pursue zonal pricing as part of its Review of Electricity Market Arrangements. All these measures are essential to mobilise the industry investment which could unlock over 8GW of offshore wind and bring us closer to the Government’s target of clean power by 2030”.

Jess Ralston, analyst, ECIU:
“This appears to be Government putting money where its mouth is, backing the net zero mission to insulate the UK from foreign gas markets manipulated by actors like Putin by literally insulating homes. The UK has millions of cold, damp, unhealthy homes which cost hundreds of pounds more to heat than they should, waste gas and burden the NHS. Families still struggling with high bills could see huge savings as a result of net zero tech like insulation, heat pumps and solar.

“For industry, the picture remains unclear with all eyes now on the upcoming industrial strategy – will the Government act to reduce the impact of high gas prices on our steel industry and other sectors, which UK steel has said is the “main driver” of disparities with industries in Europe?”

Anthony Ainsworth, Chief Operating Officer, npower Business Solutions:
“Following the Spring Statement earlier this year, we urged the Chancellor to hold firm and not cut budgets to schemes that are designed to transform our energy system.
“It was therefore encouraging to see that the Chancellor confirmed that energy remains a key pillar of the government’s plans for growth. She stated that ‘energy security is national security’ – we believe that energy security is also economic security.
“A homegrown, clean and efficient energy system is crucial to driving economic growth. For all consumers, particularly businesses, it will reduce energy costs, helping them to increase investment, and will give them greater stability and energy security in increasingly uncertain times.
“So, while many of the energy announcements today were not ‘new’ news, they confirmed previous announcements from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero and gave backing to the roll out of technologies such as nuclear and CCUS, as well as the future of Great British Energy.
“The cost of delivering clean power by 2030 is significant, and businesses are already facing increases to non-commodity costs to help support the delivery of new energy infrastructure. We look forward to working alongside government to ensure that future plans work for businesses.”

Olivia Powis, CEO, CCSA:

“The CCSA welcomes this statement of support for CCUS in today’s Comprehensive Spending Review, with allocation of funding for the build out of HyNet and the East Coast Cluster and development funding to progress the Acorn Project and Viking CCS. The commitment to taking Final Investment Decision this Parliament, subject to readiness and affordability, for these clusters is welcomed by industry and helps towards giving the confidence it needs to move forward with major investments in low-carbon infrastructure.

“This is a clear step forward to progressing the next clusters in Scotland and Humber. CCUS is critical to decarbonising our industrial heartlands, supporting clean power and enabling low-carbon hydrogen. It also plays a key role in protecting and creating thousands of high-quality jobs across the country in critical industries like cement, chemicals and refining, and the power system — all of which are essential for meeting the Government’s commitments on new infrastructure and housebuilding. Today’s announcement help position the UK as a world leader in carbon capture technologies.”

Jon Butterworth, CEO, National Gas:

“We welcome the Government’s Spending Review commitment to fund vital carbon capture projects, including the Acorn Project in Scotland, which recognises their pivotal role in decarbonising our economy, securing Britain’s energy and creating the jobs of the future. As Britain’s national gas network, we’re looking forward to working together with Government and industry to deliver these important projects and realise the opportunity of a cleaner, more secure energy future for the whole country.

Dave Richardson, Chair of the NWHA and Decarbonisation Solutions Director at Costain:
“We welcome the Government’s continued recognition of hydrogen as a critical component of the UK’s clean energy future. The Spending Review’s emphasis on energy security and domestic clean energy investment is a positive step forward.
“The North West Hydrogen Alliance is pleased to see renewed backing of the industrial clusters with £9.4bn of new capital funding committed for HyNet and East Coast Cluster carbon dioxide storage infrastructure. With the right investment through the Government’s cluster sequencing process, this funding could enable a low-carbon hydrogen economy at scale across the North West region, protecting jobs in one of the country’s industrial heartlands.
“We encourage the Government to ensure that there is a clear, long-term framework for hydrogen deployment across all regions, including the North West. This must include timely access to funding, support for end-use applications, and a joined-up approach to infrastructure planning. The North West stands ready to deliver clean growth, energy resilience, and skilled jobs. We look forward to working with Government to ensure that the region’s potential is fully realised.”