Welcome to What Did You Miss Fridays? – your weekly digest of the top stories shaping the UK’s energy future. From record-breaking investments in clean energy to crucial infrastructure deals, here’s everything you need to know from this week in energy.
Carbon Capture Gets a £200 Million Boost
The UK government committed £200 million to the Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project in Scotland, reigniting momentum behind one of the nation’s most crucial decarbonization strategies. The Acorn hub, along with its Humber-based counterpart, Viking, aims to remove up to 18 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2030.
These projects are the cornerstone of the UK’s broader £9.4 billion CCS strategy, positioning the country as a global leader in industrial decarbonization and clean energy innovation.
Nuclear Power Surges with Sizewell C and Small Modular Reactors
In one of the biggest announcements of the year, the government confirmed a £14 billion investment in Sizewell C, a new nuclear power plant expected to power 6 million homes and create 10,000 jobs. Scheduled to be operational by the early 2030s, this flagship project underscores nuclear’s role in long-term energy security.
Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce is set to develop the UK’s first fleet of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), backed by £2.5 billion in public funding. These compact power stations promise faster build times and a smaller physical footprint, with each SMR capable of delivering 470 MW of low-carbon electricity.
EDF Accelerates EV Charging with Pod Point Acquisition
EDF Energy doubled down on the UK’s electric vehicle future by acquiring full ownership of Pod Point, one of the country’s leading EV charger networks. Despite recent losses, the company’s infrastructure footprint continues to grow—crucial as the UK pushes toward a zero-emissions transport system by 2035.
Expect further integrations between EDF’s renewable energy assets and Pod Point’s public and residential charging solutions in the months ahead.
Labour’s Spending Review: Big Wins for Net-Zero (and Nuclear)
Keywords: UK net-zero policy, Labour green energy budget, Great British Energy
Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her 2025 Spending Review, unveiling a 16% increase to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)—bringing the total to £12.6 billion annually by 2028.
Headline items include:
- £13.2 billion for home insulation schemes
- £8.3 billion for Great British Energy
- Expanded R&D budgets for clean tech
However, a notable shift occurred: £2.5 billion of GB Energy’s funding was reallocated to support Rolls-Royce SMRs, a move that sparked debate within environmental circles.
Industry Insights: Diversity & Innovation
New research from POWERful Women shows incremental progress in gender representation across the UK energy sector. While 30% of board seats are now held by women, only 8% of CEOs and 9% of Chairs are female—highlighting the need for deeper structural change.
Meanwhile, this year’s Utility Week Live event spotlighted green projects outpacing national growth 3-to-1, including a hospital solar array saving £1 million per year—proof that climate tech is paying real dividends.
From carbon capture to compact reactors, this week was a turning point in the UK’s energy transition. As policy aligns with investment, the race toward net-zero by 2050 is gathering speed.
Stay tuned next Friday for more headlines, insights, and future-shaping developments in UK energy.
