Renewable companies in the UK play a pivotal role in boosting the country's green energy capacity. As per September Energy Trends 2024, the total renewable generation increased by 19% compared to 2023. 

The UK aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, and several companies help achieve that goal by inventing innovative products to support the adoption of renewables. These companies are developing from batteries for electric cars to smart energy meters.

Several renewable energy companies, such as Ørsted and SSE PLC, are providing services to boost the UK's renewable energy market. In this blog, the top 7 renewable companies in the UK are ranked based on their capacities as of 2024.

Top Renewable Energy Companies in The UK (Ranked Based on Installed Capacity)

Below are the top 7 renewable companies in the UK ranked based on installed renewable capacity as of 2025.

Ørsted

Ørsted was incorporated in 2006 and is one of the world's largest renewable energy companies in offshore wind power.

Ørsted provides various services such as development, construction, and operation. These services are offered in offshore, onshore wind, solar, renewable hydrogen and energy storage, green fuel facilities, and bioenergy plants. Its portfolio includes several large-scale offshore and onshore projects and includes the world's first offshore wind farm in 1991 with 2000 wind turbines. Orsted is executing multiple renewable energy projects across the world. Recently, the company achieved FID (final investment decision) on a battery energy storage project in the UK. 

As of Q2 2024, it has a global installed capacity of 17.5 GW, about 7.7 GW is under construction, and 2.8 GW capacity projects have been awarded. It aims to achieve 35-38 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030. 

With UK government support, Ørsted has become a major player in the core market, with a total installed capacity of 5.6 GW and 12 offshore wind farms supplying power to over 6 million UK homes each year. It is currently building Hornsea 3, which will be the world's single-largest offshore wind farm with a 2.9 GW capacity. Get the latest updates about this project by subscribing to our UK's offshore wind farm database.

On 29th January 2025, Ørsted and PGE announced FID (Final Investment Decision) for the 1.5 GW Baltica 2 Offshore Wind Farm. It will be built, owned and operated by Ørsted and PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna, Poland’s largest energy company in a 50/50 partnership.

The Baltica 2 offshore windfarm is planned approximately 40 km off the Polish coast near Ustka, and is expected to be fully commissioned in 2027.

SSE PLC

SSE PLC is a renewable energy company committed to delivering green energy through offshore, onshore, solar, battery, and hydro projects. It is part of the FTSE (Financial Times Stock Exchange) listed and was incorporated in 1998.

It has an operational portfolio of 4.5 GW in the UK. This includes 2 GW of onshore wind capacity, more than 1 GW of offshore wind capacity, and almost 1.5 GW of hydropower and pumped storage capacity. Apart from this, SSE PLC has recently acquired a 100 MW battery storage project in Ireland.

Led by CEO Paul Morton, Alistair Phillips-Davies, and CFO Barry O'Regan, SSE employs approximately 14,980 full-time people worldwide. Through SSEN Distribution, SSE distributes electricity to approximately 3.9 million homes and businesses, maintaining its position as a major utility provider in the UK and Irish markets while transitioning toward renewable energy sources.

SSE PLC aims to increase its total installed renewable energy capacity to 9 GW by 2027 and 16 GW by 2032. Currently, about 15.1 GW of capacity is under construction and development. This includes 8.8 GW offshore wind, 3.8 GW onshore wind, 1.3 GW pumped storage, and 1.2 GW solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity. Know more about its upcoming renewable energy projects in the UK.

Octopus Energy

The Octopus Group’s Octopus Energy is a UK-based energy supplier incorporated in 2015. It provides electricity from 100% renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower. 

It supplies renewable electricity through various tariffs, including fixed and variable options. Their services include electric vehicle (EV) support energy technology solutions developed by Kraken, a platform by Octopus Group. 

It is headquartered in London and operates across countries like the UK, the United States, and Italy.

Octopus Energy provides 100% renewable electricity and manages over 400 green generators including wind and solar farms, with 4.4 GW of total capacity and GBP 6.8 billion in renewable energy assets under management that power 2.6 million homes annually. 

The company's key differentiator is its proprietary Kraken platform, a cutting-edge technology for billing, customer service, smart tariff management, and grid balancing, which it also licenses to other energy companies globally.

Drax Company

Drax Group plc is one of the major players in the UK renewable energy market. Its portfolio includes sustainable biomass, pumped hydro storage, and hydroelectric power across four sites in England and Scotland. 

It is the UK's largest source of renewable power by output. It is a major player in biomass energy and also operates hydroelectric power and energy storage. It is headquartered in North Yorkshire. The company's portfolio includes 13 manufacturing facilities of wood pellets for its own use and its customers in the United States and Canada.

The company operates across four countries with approximately 2,974 employees worldwide and is engaged in renewable power generation, production of sustainable biomass, and the sale of renewable electricity to businesses.

Drax's portfolio includes three main segments: Pellet Production, which produces approximately 4.2 million tonnes per annum of wood pellets across 14 plants in the USA and Canada with 5 million tonnes per annum capacity; Generation, which operates the 4GW Drax Power Station site with four fully flexible biomass units providing 2.6GW of capacity capable of generating enough renewable electricity to power over eight million homes.

EDF Renewables

EDF Renewables UK is a subsidiary of EDF Group. It is one of the world’s largest low-carbon electricity companies. It currently has an operating portfolio of 43 renewable energy sites across the UK as of May 2024. This includes battery storage and onshore and offshore wind. The entire installed renewable capacity of EDF Renewables is 1.5 GW.

It aims to expand its portfolio of installed renewable capacity to 14 GW, which includes the planning and development of wind, battery, and solar PV. EDF Renewables is major renewable energy company in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. It operates in over 20 countries worldwide.

On 1st February, 2025 EDF Renewables North America (EDFR) and Power Sustainable Energy Infrastructure (PSEI) announced the 375 MWdc/300 MWac Desert Quartzite Solar + storage project in Riverside County, California has begun its commercial operations in December 2024. The plant can produce power up to four hours which will be delivered to Clean power Alliance (CPA) under a 20-year PPA (Power Purchase Agrement) agreement, supporting California's transition to clean energy. 

EDF Renewables is particularly notable as one of the largest foreign investors in India's renewable energy market, with a 2,842 MW renewable portfolio, including 2,273 MWp of solar and 569 MW of wind capacity as of 2022. 

The EDF Group, parent company of EDF Renewables, plans to double its renewable capacity by 2030 from 28 GW (including hydro) to 50 GW as part of its strategic project "CAP 2030," and to generate 90% of its electricity CO₂-free in France.

Renewable Energy System Ltd (RES)

Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (RES) is a leading global renewable energy company based in the UK. Its specialized services include developing, constructing, and operating renewable energy projects.

It was founded in 1981; it is a significant player in the renewable energy sector and has a portfolio of projects in wind, solar, and energy storage solutions, green hydrogen, transmission & distribution, biomass, and hydro. It is headquartered in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, UK. 

From 1989, RES began to develop, construct, and operate renewable energy projects. Its first wind project was the Carland Cross in 1992, the second commercial wind farm in the UK. In 1995, it designed and installed its first solar PV project in the UK. In 1998, the company designed and built its first commercial 1 MW wind turbine. It is currently a team of 4500 people serving across 23 countries with 7 technologies.

Lightsource BP

Lightsource BP is one of the global leaders in onshore renewables and solar development. Its services include developing, financing, and operating utility-scale renewable energy projects. 
 

Lightsource BP was founded in 2010 as Lightsource Renewable Energy. It was acquired completely by BP on October 24th, 2024, and is now known as Lightsource BP. It has a portfolio of 9.5 GW installed solar power as of 2024 and operates in about 19 global regions. It currently has 1.03 GW of installed capacity solar projects in the UK.

On 31st January 2025, Lightsource bp announced the commercial operation of 288 MW solar portfolio in Texas which includes two solar projects; a 163 MW Starr Solar project in Starr Cunty, Texas and a 125 MW Second Division Solar in Brazoria County, Texas. Additionally, to plans to expand Lightsource bp's existing operations in Texas to 1,051 MW.  

Conclusion

Major companies like Ørsted, SSE PLC, Octopus Energy, Drax Company, and EDF Renewables back the UK's renewable energy production. Other prominent players include Good Energy, Ecotricity, and many more. Thus, the UK continues to expand its renewable energy capacity, aligning with the country's net zero goals. 

FAQ's

What is the largest renewable company in the UK?

Ørsted is the largest with 5.697 GW capacity based on the installed renewable capacity as of 2024.

What are the top 5 energy companies in the UK?

Ørsted, SSE PLC, Octopus Energy, Drax Company, and EDF Renewables are the top 5 renewable energy companies in the UK based on their installed renewable capacity as of 2024.

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