Great British Energy (GBE) Supply Chain Fund: Offshore Wind and Networks

Overview

This is a CapEx-focused manufacturing expansion fund (not an R&D competition). The sweet spot is a UK facility investment that increases output of a clearly “constrained” component used in offshore wind or the GB transmission network, with strong readiness and a credible case that the project won’t proceed at the same scale/timing without grant support.  

Scope

Eligible projects must deliver new or expanded UK manufacturing facilities that, once completed, manufacture one or more components on GBE’s critical components list. The list is “live” and may be updated as market constraints change.  

Key themes and topics

Eligible critical components (manufactured at the completed facility) include:  

• Offshore wind: mooring and anchoring, blades, nacelles, towers, monopiles, transition pieces  
• Electricity networks: HVDC cables, HVAC cables (including dynamic), power transformers (AC and DC), HVDC converter stations, switchgear, reactive power management and control systems  

Network components should be compatible with 132kV and above.  

Project duration

This fund is structured around application rounds and a grant drawdown window (rather than a fixed project length):

• Grant drawdown: April 2026 to 31 March 2030 (with the fund closing 31 March 2030).  

Funding and eligible costs

• Eligible costs: capital expenditure directly related to the project, including buildings, production equipment and machinery, associated enabling infrastructure linked to the specific product, and (in some cases) manufacturing-facility-related R&D costs where the grant also supports construction of facilities.  
• Not eligible: OpEx, land purchase/property transactions, service and maintenance agreements, embedded warranty costs, and interest costs.  
• Payments: grant payments are made in arrears after verified claims against agreed eligible costs and deliverables.  

Eligibility criteria

Key requirements include:  

• Applicant is a company registered under the Companies Act 2006 (at full application stage).
• UK-wide eligibility (subject to Windsor Framework considerations).
• Funding is for new or extended manufacturing facilities in the UK.
• You must confirm the grant won’t fund relocation of existing UK production activities.
• The completed project manufactures one or more eligible critical components.
• A genuine case for assistance: grant funding must be necessary for the project to proceed.

Application process and key dates

Applications go through four stages: Eligibility → Readiness review → Full application (strategic, technical, financial, economic) → Portfolio-based review (quarterly, comparing submitted applications to build a balanced portfolio).  

Round deadlines (full application submission to be considered in that round):  

• Round 1: 31 March 2026 (17:00 UK)
• Round 2: 30 June 2026 (17:00 UK)
• Round 3: 30 September 2026 (17:00 UK)
• Round 4 / fund closes: 10 December 2026 (17:00 UK)
• GBE may close early if the budget is fully allocated in earlier rounds.