The UK Government has unveiled its Infrastructure Strategy, placing energy at the centre of national ambitions for growth, decarbonisation, and resilience. With major reforms across planning, regulation, and investment, the Infrastructure Strategy sets a new agenda for how infrastructure will be developed, funded, and delivered over the next decade. This marks not just a shift in policy but a strategic inflection point for the future of the energy sector. In this article, Brevia Energy unpacks the implications and opportunities for the sector.
Strategic Overview: A National Mission for Clean Growth
The Infrastructure Strategy underpins the UK’s Industrial Strategy, supporting the delivery of Clean Power 2030, and aims to catalyse productivity, job creation, and regional growth. By unifying these priorities under one policy framework, the Government signals that energy is now a strategic asset, not just a utility function. This repositioning raises the bar for project alignment: commercial viability alone will no longer suffice. Energy developers will be expected to demonstrate contributions to resilience, competitiveness, and regional economic impact.
Institutional Reform: A New Delivery Architecture
Central to the Infrastructure Strategy is the creation of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, a single entity to coordinate planning, delivery, and standards across sectors. For project sponsors and operators, this presents a clearer line of sight on Government priorities alongside more centralised oversight. Early engagement with this new Authority will be essential to secure policy backing and minimise delivery friction.
Unlocking Private Capital: Investment, Incentives and Regulation
With £725bn in planned infrastructure investment and a dedicated £27.8bn National Wealth Fund, the Government is working to reduce the risk of capital-intensive projects. The creation of the British Infrastructure Taskforce and a forthcoming update on economic regulation aim to support private investment, balancing investor certainty with consumer protection. The Infrastructure Strategy signals a decisive shift toward outcomes-based investment, where private capital is rewarded only when projects align with long-term goals such as affordability and decarbonisation.
Clearing the Gridlock: Planning and Delivery Reform
Recognising that grid delays are stifling deployment, the Government is moving to a ‘first ready, first connected’ model, highlighted in the Infrastructure Strategy. This reverses the traditional queueing system and rewards projects that are fully prepared. For developers, acceleration is now a competitive advantage, although it also front-loads risk. Planning, permitting, and land acquisition strategies will need to be front-loaded and re-optimised for speed, certainty, and competitive edge.
The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (expected in 2026) will further identify where energy assets are most needed, particularly to support demand-intensive sectors like data centres and advanced manufacturing. This places a premium on locational intelligence and cross-sector alignment in project siting.
Low-Carbon Energy
With Clean Power 2030 at its core, the Infrastructure Strategy frames the energy transition as a national industrial opportunity, not just an environmental obligation. With over £43.8bn in private investment since July 2024, the Government is pursuing a mixed-technology approach — from renewables and battery storage to large-scale nuclear (Sizewell C, Hinkley Point C) and next-generation small modular reactors. Industry decarbonisation will be underpinned by targeted investment in enabling infrastructure, including Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) clusters and a national hydrogen network rollout. Deploying clean energy at this scale is expected to create thousands of green jobs, with significant opportunities to reskill and redeploy workers transitioning from traditional industries. For energy developers, linking projects to local employment and skills development will become an increasingly critical success factor when seeking Government support or local consent.
System Transformation: Planning, Pricing and Governance
The energy system of the next decade will be shaped in part by the Centralised Strategic Network Plan, which will outline the transmission infrastructure required to meet demand. Combined with market design reforms and the establishment of the National Energy System Operator, this represents a fundamental shift in how the system is governed and priced as part of the Infrastructure Strategy. Active, constructive participation in regulatory consultation processes will be essential to shape workable outcomes for industry.
Heat, Buildings and Industrial Opportunity
In the Infrastructure Strategy, the Government is treating clean heat and energy efficiency not only as climate goals but as economic levers. The £13.2bn Warm Homes Plan is designed to stimulate supply chains for heat pumps and retrofit technologies while also reducing energy bills. The Government is also exploring new approaches to home heating, including a hydrogen consultation expected later this year. This demonstrates its commitment to innovative solutions.
Next Steps
With this Infrastructure Strategy, the Government hopes to set a clear direction. However, its success will depend on proactive engagement and alignment with evolving sector priorities. Brevia Energy supports clients in navigating this rapidly evolving policy landscape – offering strategic counsel, political engagement support, and stakeholder positioning aligned to your organisation’s commercial and regulatory goals.
