Publicly owned Great British Energy is to establish its new headquarters in Aberdeen city centre, cementing the Granite City’s role at the heart of the UK’s clean energy transition. The organisation, created to accelerate investment in low‑carbon infrastructure and green projects, will base its main operations at the Marischal Square development opposite the landmark Marischal College.
Launched last year under the Labour Government and formally established in May, GB Energy is designed to speed up the shift away from fossil fuels by backing clean power generation and storage schemes across the country. Owned by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero but run independently, the company has set out five‑year targets to build a portfolio capable of delivering at least 15 gigawatts of clean energy generation and storage capacity – enough to power almost ten million homes.
The new Aberdeen headquarters will host GB Energy’s main corporate functions, supply chain activity and major development projects, including ambitions in deep‑water offshore wind.
Great British Energy’s CEO Dan McGrail said: “Aberdeen is the perfect location for Britain’s publicly owned energy company. It is a world-leading energy hub and has been crucial to our energy security for decades and I am delighted Marischal Square will be the location of our permanent headquarters.
“Thousands of engineers, innovators, and technicians call Aberdeen home. That is why we are proud to make this city our home and become a part of the Aberdeen community. Great British Energy will draw on the abundant local talent to provide investment and support for projects across the country.”
Council leaders have welcomed the decision as a vote of confidence in the city centre and its evolving energy economy.
Aberdeen City Council co-leader Ian Yuill, said: “Aberdeen is at the forefront of the transition in the energy sector while ensuring the security of the existing oil and gas chain.
“We welcome Great British Energy to the city as part of this essential work to the economy which is vital not only for the securing the expertise locally but good for the future energy needs of the country.”
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “That GB Energy has chosen to not only make Aberdeen the home of its new headquarters, but to base itself right in the heart of the Granite City is a welcome and major boost that we all need right now.
“Having many new jobs based at Marischal Square will make a massive difference to our city centre, increasing footfall and also boosting local businesses who will benefit from having a new tranche of customers on their doorstep.
“As we all know, the best way to re-energise and regenerate our city centre is to have people in it and this decision by GB Energy is a stride towards that essential goal.
“It is also a huge vote of confidence in Aberdeen and the energy sector – a bright ray of hope in what have been some very gloomy days for both.
“My hope is that this sends out a clear signal to other businesses and investors that Aberdeen is very much open and ready to welcome them to one of the finest cities in the country.”
GB Energy expects its investments to mobilise around £15bn of private finance by 2030 as projects are brought forward. The body also aims to support 10,000 jobs through the schemes it backs, including in regions such as the north east of Scotland that have historically relied on oil and gas.
Energy minister Michael Shanks said the decision to locate the headquarters in Aberdeen would ensure Scotland’s energy expertise and talent remains central to unlocking clean‑energy investment and job creation. He stressed that Aberdeen, long at the core of the UK’s energy sector, will continue its legacy of “powering Britain” as the government pursues its clean‑energy mission.
