Great British Energy Bill: Uncertainty remains over Northern Ireland implications

In its report on the Legislative Consent Memorandum for the Great British Energy Bill, the Committee for the Economy has flagged a lack of clarity on the Executive’s role in directing investment in green hydrogen.

The Bill – seeking to establish a new publicly owned energy company, Great British Energy – is a key manifesto commitment of the Starmer government in London. The new organisation is to be tasked with accelerating clean energy deployment and boosting energy independence across the UK. However, questions remain over how the company’s functions will interact with devolved policy levers, especially in Northern Ireland.

The Department for the Economy has indicated support for the Bill following a UK Government amendment to clause five of the Bill, which requires consent from the Department where strategic priorities touch on devolved matters. Northern Ireland’s devolved approach to the consequences of the Bill diverges notably from that taken in Scotland and Wales.
There, the legislation mandates consultation with a range of ministers, acknowledging the cross-cutting nature of energy, environmental, and air quality responsibilities. The more limited scope in the Northern Ireland amendment has raised concerns about oversight and delivery.

Northern Ireland has set the development of renewable hydrogen as a central pillar of its decarbonisation and energy security strategies, with projects like the Belfast Hydrogen Hub and the GenComm initiative aiming to scale production and infrastructure.

However, without assurance that the Executive will influence how Great British Energy allocates funding, the Committee has suggested that Northern Ireland’s hydrogen ambitions may be overlooked in favour of more mature markets elsewhere in the UK.
In addition, the Committee has sought urgent clarification from the Department on whether seabed development for renewable projects – an area essential for green hydrogen production via offshore wind – would remain under devolved control following passage of the legislation.

The Department has confirmed that leases and licences would still require approval from Northern Ireland departments, offering a measure of reassurance. However, broader strategic alignment remains uncertain.

The Committee has failed to reach a definitive view on the Legislative Consent Motion, meaning that the next steps are unclear for Northern Ireland, especially if the British Government presses ahead with passage of the legislation in Westminster.