Clean Power 2030 is the UK government’s mission to decarbonise Great Britain’s electricity system by 2030. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero set out how it plans to get there in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, published on 13 December 2024 and drawing on advice from the National Energy System Operator (NESO).
What “clean power” means
The plan does not mean gas disappears. In a typical weather year, it defines clean power as a system where:
- clean sources produce at least as much electricity as Great Britain consumes in total over the year
- clean sources provide at least 95% of Great Britain’s generation
- carbon intensity falls from 171 gCO2e per kWh in 2023 to well below 50 g in 2030.
Unabated gas stays on the system as backup, used only when essential. The plan expects about 35 GW of gas capacity to be kept through 2030.
The capacity ranges
The plan gives ranges rather than fixed targets, because the exact mix will depend on costs and delivery:
| Technology | 2023 (GW) | 2030 range (GW) |
|---|---|---|
| Offshore wind | 14.8 | 43–50 |
| Onshore wind | 14.2 | 27–29 |
| Solar | 16.6 | 45–47 |
| Batteries | 4.5 | 23–27 |
| Long-duration storage | 2.9 | 4–6 |
| Interconnectors | 9.8 | 12–14 |
Why it matters
Reaching these ranges means building new generation, storage and grid infrastructure far faster than before. That is why the plan is tied to reform of the grid connection queue, faster planning decisions for major projects and new rounds of Contracts for Difference auctions. Progress against the ranges is the main yardstick for judging whether the mission is on track.
Read more: Ofgem gives NESO another month to issue Gate 2 grid connection offers.