The green energy transformation represents a vast market, a terawatt-scale opportunity. It is identified as one of the eight high-growth priority areas in the UK government’s industrial strategy, alongside sectors such as life sciences and advanced manufacturing. 

The UK’s ambitious net-zero targets call for a rapid expansion of offshore wind capacity—from 15 to 50 gigawatts (GW) by 2030. This target signals significant market growth, with projections suggesting the potential for 100-120 GW by 2050. Achieving these milestones requires a stronger domestic supply chain, complemented by collaboration with international players, including China.

What does this mean for China? 

We discussed this with Dr Chong Ng, Associate Director of Applied Research at the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult. He believes the UK is creating a “cake” large enough to be shared by domestic and international players in the green energy space. 

Here is the essence of our conversation:

•  The Clean Tech Landscape

The UK aims to expand its offshore wind energy capacity significantly, moving from the current 15 GW to 50 GW by 2030. This ambitious goal entails installing an additional 35 GW over the next five years.

Central to green energy is the concept of “green electricity.” According to Dr Ng, “Generating green electricity is one of the fundamentals for success in all these scenarios.” 

The growing electricity demand is driven by three primary forces: the UK’s net-zero targets i.e. boost clean energy generation while cutting down on carbon-intensive industries and domestic applications; the exponential rise of AI data centres, and the push for green transportation, such as electric vehicles (EVs). Meeting this demand requires a robust and sustainable green electricity infrastructure, including power generation, storage, and an efficient grid.

Dr Ng believes the scale of this opportunity allows global players to participate—provided their products and technologies meet the UK’s high standards, energy security and stability priorities.

•  Complementary Strengths and Concerns

Collaboration is critical for leveraging opportunities at the intersection of AI, green energy transitions, and electric transportation. The UK and various international players, including China, bring complementary strengths to the table. The UK’s innovation-led approach can benefit from global expertise in areas such as wind turbine technologies, energy storage, and infrastructure development. The UK’s innovation focus can benefit from players such as China in the solar PV supply chain; and European as well as Chinese’s expertise in wind turbine manufacturing. 

However, energy security remains a sensitive issue. Concerns about the political climate’s impact on supply chains, technology quality, and cybersecurity are significant. Dr Ng highlights cybersecurity as a key area for appropriate further measures. 

Building trust with international players in clean technology is essential. This involves ensuring that new-entry technologies meet UK quality standards through rigorous physical testing and validation; a process that not only verifies the technology itself but also demands cultural alignment and the bridging of different perspectives on how testing and certification should be done. 

Rather than focusing on technical superiority or market dominance, Dr Ng suggests, “a more effective approach is to show the positive impact you’ve had; highlight how your work has supported local communities, contributed to social well-being, and complemented local economic development. This helps foster mutual respect and positions you as a collaborative and responsible partner.”

Local sentiment plays a key role in determining foreign investors’ success, particularly in the green energy sector.

•  Key Areas for Collaboration

International investors and manufacturers, including those from Europe, Asia, and beyond, can play a role in strengthening the UK’s supply chain through technology investment and co-development, plant establishment, and participation in wind farm projects.

Discussions with Dr Ng identified specific areas with significant potential for collaboration:

• Wind Energy: International players, including Chinese companies, have opportunities to invest in and collaborate on UK wind farm development.
• Energy Storage: The energy storage systems market presents substantial growth potential for joint efforts.
• Manufacturing and Installation: China’s strength in volume manufacturing components (e.g., cables, towers, and heavy structures) complements the UK’s expertise in technical innovation, applications and deployments, suggesting possibilities for specialisation and partnership.

•  Conclusion

This discussion highlights the significant potential for wider international collaboration in clean tech while addressing the challenges related to energy security, cybersecurity, technology standards, and cultural alignment. A key element of successful partnerships is the foreign players, including Chinese companies, to address UK concerns around energy security, technology quality, and demonstrating a long-term commitment to local communities.

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About Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (ORE Catapult):

ORE Catapult is part of an elite network of eight technology and innovation centres across the UK, established and overseen by Innovate UK. As the UK’s flagship research centre for offshore wind, wave, and tidal energy, it delivers prioritised research supported by world-class test and demonstration facilities. Its mission is to reduce the cost of offshore renewable energy and generate UK economic benefits by collaborating with industry, academia, and government.