Nearly half of Britain’s energy is imported. Given the Middle East is currently an unstable region and the threat of war looms over Europe, this is unquestionably a strategic weakness for the country.
The government has set up GB Energy – a publicly owned but operationally independent company – to help meet its Net Zero targets. They are doing this by prioritising renewables with the aim that in the long term, the UK can secure energy independence. One of their challenges is convincing the public in the face of climate denialism from the right.
Energy security starts at home
The benefits of green energy are immense and shouldn’t be underrated. Take two of the biggest offshore wind farms in UK waters: Dogger Bank and Hornsea 3. Scheduled for completion by 2027, together they will power up to nine million homes across the country, helping to significantly reduce the UK’s reliance on fossil fuel imports.
According to The National Energy System Operator (NESO), the UK is “closer than ever to securing a zero-carbon electricity system”. On 23 April 2026, they reported a record-breaking 98.8% of the country’s total electricity was powered by zero-carbon sources.
Granted, this was only for 30 minutes but as they point out, this “zero-carbon record underlines the resilience of Britain’s national electricity system, which is showing it can be run safely and securely on large quantities of homegrown renewables.”
With the implementation of Doggerbank, Hornsea 3 and other green energy ventures, the government’s clean power target of 95% of electricity generation coming from low-carbon sources by 2030 appears increasingly achievable.
Progress – and political risk
Yet, the current progress could be stifled if future governments deprioritise green energy. Reform leader Nigel Farage has repeatedly described net-zero as a ‘scam’ and denied carbon dioxide is a pollutant, calling the idea ‘absolutely nuts’. This is despite the fact that 99% of climate scientists agree climate change is man-made. The Conservatives under Kemi Badenoch are also vowing to scrap the 2050 net-zero target.
Given climate-scepticism is increasingly shaping parts of mainstream politics, a way to combat this is to shift the conversation around green energy from climate change to one of strategic security. The recent US and Israeli attack on Iran is a salutary reminder how a future Reform government neglecting green energy will place the UK in a vulnerable position.
A lesson from Europe’s energy crisis
Germany is a prime example of how dependence on a foreign state can leave a country between a rock and a hard place geopolitically. As reported byThe Guardian, before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, 55% of Germany’s gas came via the Nord Stream pipeline between the two countries. The war meant that Germany, a NATO ally, had to rapidly change tack. Continuing the operation provided funding to the aggressor while, simultaneously, risking their gas being shut off (something Russia threatened more than once). Fundamentally, energy security is only guaranteed when reliance on external suppliers is ended.
Both Reform and the Conservatives criticise Labour’s approach to banning new oil and gas licences, arguing that the North Sea reserves will lower bills and assist energy independence.
Yet, this position fails to consider that energy analysts say that 93% of North Sea oil and gas has already been extracted, with the remainder being potentially hard to access and inherently finite.
Nuclear – reliable but expensive
Where does nuclear energy fit into the mix? This is where the government’s investment is more controversial. Nuclear power plants can provide energy independence – but at a far greater cost. This form of energy is typically 3 to 4 times more per megawatt-hour (MWh) than offshore wind and far slower to build. Nuclear power plants can take over a decade to construct, while solar and wind farms only take a year.
Often costing billions, nuclear sites are far more complex and so costs can overrun. Hinkley Point C in Somerset is a clear example. In 2015, it was initially estimated to cost £18bn. That figure has now risen to £35bn as of 2026, due to multiple delays and complex design changes, and it is unlikely to begin generation until after 2030.
While it’s true nuclear energy is more consistent than wind or solar, once online the site will only power 7% to 10% of the country’s electricity demands. This is over triple the cost of the Dogger Bank wind farm which should meet around 5% of demand.
Renewables as an economic asset
The government doesn’t get the credit it deserves in making steps towards a sustainable, energy-secure future. Climate think tank E3G claims North Sea offshore wind ‘has the potential to be a major geostrategic asset for Europe’. Denmark is a shining example of how pursuing renewable energy is achievable and can strengthen an economy. Approximately 80% of their electricity is powered by renewable sources, creating thousands of new jobs and reducing bills in the process.
According to YouGov, 17% of Britons don’t believe climate change is man-made and 23% believe it has been exaggerated. For the government to succeed in convincing the public that green energy is an investment worth pursuing, they need to change the narrative around net-zero.
The war in Iran has already resulted in cancelled flights and expensive petrol and diesel prices due to fuel shortages. If the war continues, the government may need to start rationing. As a result, 3 in 5 Britons are now concerned about fuel scarcity according to market researcher Ipsos.
This anxiety has even led to a significant jump in electric vehicle sales, suggesting more of the public are in want of sustainable energy independence.
For those unconvinced by climate arguments, the case for green energy still stands. A country that relies on others to keep the lights on cannot claim to be secure. Energy independence means lower risk, greater stability and more control over our future. In an increasingly volatile world, that may be the argument that matters most.
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