Dan McGrail, Chief Executive, RenewableUK:
“Cutting people’s energy bills and boosting energy security will be high on the new prime minister’s agenda, so we’re keen to work with Mr Sunak to achieve this as fast as possible.
“This means pulling out all the stops to quadruple our offshore wind capacity by 2030, as it’s the UK’s cheapest source of new power. This will deliver nearly 100,000 jobs and over £150 billion in private investment. It will also enable us to secure massive industrial benefits with factories opening up in ports around the UK as we build up our supply chain.
“We’re also urging the new prime minister to maintain the Conservatives’ commitment to lifting the block on onshore wind in England, as it has the support of over 70% of the public and over 80% of Conservative voters.
“We need a wide range of power sources to get us to net zero as fast as possible, including floating wind, tidal energy and green hydrogen – and the UK is a world leader in all of these technologies.
“But to seize these opportunities we’re urging Mr Sunak to reassess of some of the Conservatives’ recent measures which risk undermining confidence among investors, such as the energy price cap which could skew investment towards fossil fuels. We also need to see a reform of our system of clean power auctions to increase the volume of new capacity we secure each year. And we need a new remit for Ofgem so that it can start investing in vital new grid infrastructure ahead of time so that we can reach net zero as fast as possible”.

Nick Molho, Executive Director, Aldersgate Group:
“The new prime minister takes office at a time when the UK economy is struggling to attract investment and dealing with significant challenges around the cost of living, energy security and regional inequalities. Accelerating the UK’s transition towards net zero emissions and restoring nature are central solutions to tackling these challenges. Greater investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean transport and the decarbonisation of heavy industry can cut energy costs for households and businesses, reduce the UK’s dependence on volatile fossil fuel prices, deliver significant job creation across all parts of the country and support key export opportunities for the UK economy.
“Businesses are clear that the net zero transition presents one of the largest investment opportunities of this decade, and they see well-designed environmental regulation as a crucial driver in creating jobs and increasing the UK’s long-term resilience. We call on the new prime minister to throw his full weight behind the net zero transition and rapidly enact the policies that will help accelerate the low carbon investment that the UK economy urgently needs.”

Mike Clancy, General Secretary, Prospect:
“The recent chaos has … reduced investor confidence and risks critical infrastructure plans, particularly in the energy sector. Mr Sunak must reassure the public and public servants that they will not pay the price for recent incompetent governance and bring stability such that the UK is seen as a place to invest.”

Deirdre Michie, chief executive, Offshore Energies UK:
“We wish Rishi Sunak the best. We are already in very challenging times and energy is at the top of the agenda. Global energy prices are rising, and UK consumers face surging bills at the coldest time of year. Energy security is also critical as Putin tries to create further shortages across Europe.
“OEUK’s members are protecting the UK from many of the worst impacts of those shortages by producing energy for the whole nation. They will keep doing that in the tough times ahead. We work with politicians of all parties, now including Mr Sunak’s administration, and we look forward to meeting him and his team.
“When we do, we will be making a powerful case around the need for stability in the fiscal and regulatory regimes governing the UK’s offshore sector. The UK needs to secure billions of pounds for offshore investments if it is to keep producing the gas, oil and offshore wind, plus other low-carbon energies, needed for future growth and productivity, and especially for the transition to net zero.
“The scale and longevity of that investment means it is critical to establish a sustainable and competitive fiscal regime in the timeframe of this parliament, to secure the UK’s energy future.”