GREAT British Energy’s newly published strategy to generate clean power for almost 10 million homes was welcomed by the Scottish TUC today as an “important break with 40 years of privatisation.”

Six months after the state-owned green energy investment company was established, it has published its first five-year plan detailing how it will deliver 15 gigawatts of clean power and storage capacity by 2030.

Through a combination of direct ownership and investment in projects it hopes will bring in £15 billion of private capital, the Aberdeen-based firm also plans to create 10,000 jobs producing the green power, with a particular focus on areas historically dependent on oil and gas.

GBE’s strategy states: “For too long, the UK has relied on imported energy, while other state-owned companies have benefited from owning our crucial energy assets.

“Public ownership with purpose means we use public capital to unlock private investment, not replace it.”

Unveiling the paper, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “This plan shows what a publicly owned energy company will deliver: an abundance of clean, homegrown energy for British people and thousands of good jobs across the country.”

GB Energy chief executive Dan McGrail added: “This strategic plan marks a major milestone in our mission to accelerate clean energy and the industries that support it.”

Offering a cautious welcome, STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said: “This plan marks an important break with 40 years of privatisation of our energy and credit is due to the UK government for getting GB Energy off the ground after just over a year in office.

“It is only by taking back control of our energy system that we will be able to bring down bills, tackle climate change and create jobs. 

“This plan learns from our European neighbours, supporting public bodies and local authorities to take charge in their areas and prioritising good trade union jobs in places like Aberdeen.

 “The projects GB Energy are already building in English schools and libraries may be small, but the lower energy bills are not insignificant for the future of those community hubs. 

“We will be a critical friend to GB Energy, encouraging the government to ramp up their investment to capture the opportunities that are there to be won across the country.”