Octopus boss says China’s vitality tech marks ‘golden alternative’ for UK

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Your help makes all of the distinction. Learn extra The top of Britain’s largest vitality provider has warned that the UK dangers being "left behind" if it fails to collaborate with China on renewable expertise, suggesting that importing Chinese language wind farm improvements may create hundreds of jobs.

Greg Jackson, founder and chief govt of Octopus Power, lately accompanied Sir Keir Starmer on a UK delegation to China. He emphasised China's important developments in expertise and renewables, which he believes may present Britain with essential vitality safety.

This push for nearer ties follows Octopus Power's latest three way partnership with Chinese language agency PCG Energy, marking its first enlargement into China.

The settlement will allow Octopus to commerce renewable vitality throughout the world’s largest clear vitality market.

Moreover, Octopus has beforehand indicated its need to deploy wind generators from main Chinese language producers throughout its UK tasks, utilising the nation's renewable expertise to reinforce Britain's capabilities.

Nonetheless, these potential collaborations are set in opposition to a backdrop of ongoing nationwide safety considerations concerning China, following a interval of strained relations between the 2 nations.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/08/08/12/1e58fb386ace444759069aeaf742410fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIzMjAyMDUw-2.69011745.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/08/08/12/1e58fb386ace444759069aeaf742410fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIzMjAyMDUw-2.69011745.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/08/08/12/1e58fb386ace444759069aeaf742410fY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzIzMjAyMDUw-2.69011745.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Octopus Energy founder and chief executive Greg Jackson – who was part of the UK’s delegation to China accompanying Sir Keir Starmer on his recent visit to the country – said China is leading advances in many areas of technology and renewables which could help Britain gain vital security over its energy supply" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Octopus Power founder and chief govt Greg Jackson – who was a part of the UK’s delegation to China accompanying Sir Keir Starmer on his latest go to to the nation – mentioned China is main advances in lots of areas of expertise and renewables which may assist Britain acquire very important safety over its vitality provide (PA Media) Mr Jackson advised the Press Affiliation: “Nonetheless you're feeling about China, it’s the second-largest financial system on the planet.

“In lots of areas it’s setting the worldwide tempo due to its funding in analysis and improvement, and expertise.

“There are lots of individuals involved about China’s motives or the best way during which it’s run, however … in case you don’t have a look at the way to work with them, then you definately’ll get left behind.”

He added that working with China and getting access to its expertise was a “golden alternative” that has the potential to deliver down vitality payments, create jobs and assist increase the UK financial system.

He advised PA: “We must be ready to defend our personal sovereignty and guarantee our personal safety whereas working and buying and selling with international locations who could make individuals in Britain higher off.

“There’s this obsession with whether or not or not we’re serving to their financial system, however the actuality is we have to assist our personal financial system.”

In September final yr, Octopus struck a deal to co-operate on wind farm tasks with Ming Yang Good Power Group in China, which may pave the best way for UK companies to deliver Chinese language turbine equipment into Britain for the primary time.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/02/02/17/3b8b7a2e766d1d4e046b256aa71589a6Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcwMTM4MjAy-2.83247189.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/02/02/17/3b8b7a2e766d1d4e046b256aa71589a6Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcwMTM4MjAy-2.83247189.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/02/02/17/3b8b7a2e766d1d4e046b256aa71589a6Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzcwMTM4MjAy-2.83247189.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Greg Jackson added that working with China and gaining access to its technology was a ‘golden opportunity’ that has the potential to bring down energy bills, create jobs and help boost the UK economy" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Greg Jackson added that working with China and getting access to its expertise was a ‘golden alternative’ that has the potential to deliver down vitality payments, create jobs and assist increase the UK financial system (PA Wire) Mr Jackson mentioned the agency is hoping to begin bringing the turbine expertise over within the subsequent couple of years, which is alleged to be round 30 per cent cheaper than from Europe.

“We'd hope to create hundreds of jobs right here to provide a few of the wind generators that the UK is planning on constructing,” he mentioned.

He insisted safety could be the agency’s “primary precedence” in rolling out the expertise, however that the UK must take motion to cut back its reliance on imported fuel and convey the price of payments down.

“We should always work intelligently and thoroughly with the suitable safety frameworks,” he mentioned.

“They’re opening as much as us in an acceptable method and we'd like to consider how we’ll work with them right here.”

Octopus, which has 7.6 million prospects within the UK, overtook British Fuel to develop into the UK’s largest vitality provider earlier this yr, with a market share of 24 per cent.

It additionally has an AI-powered platform, known as Kraken Applied sciences, which is utilized by different international vitality retailers to enhance customer support and billing and is valued at round £6.4 billion.

The Authorities final month mentioned it was investing £25 million into Kraken by means of the British Enterprise Financial institution (BBB) forward of the division being spun out within the subsequent few months.