Today’s ESG Updates
- Great British Energy 2030 Clean Power Plan: GBE outlines a five-year strategy to deliver 15 GW of clean energy, mobilize £15B in private finance, and support 10,000+ jobs as the UK moves to fully decarbonise its power sector by 2030.
- Morocco’s Renewable Desalination Expansion: Facing a seven-year drought, Morocco plans to meet 60% of its drinking water demand through renewable desalination by 2030 while scaling floating solar to curb dam evaporation.
- Edison’s €600 Million Wind and Solar Projects: Edison will add 500+ MW of new renewable capacity, including 300 MW wind and 200 MW solar, and advance pumped hydro storage to boost Italy’s grid resilience.
- Stafford Capital’s $1.2B Perpetual Global Timber Fund: Stafford consolidates three timber funds into a $1.2B vehicle, managing 6.3M acres and targeting 8% annual cash yields, with 73% investor rollover.
Great British Energy sets ambitious 2030 plan to scale clean power and spark nationwide investment
Great British Energy (GBE), the UK’s state-owned energy company, has released a five-year strategic plan to accelerate the nation’s shift to renewable power and support its goal to decarbonise the power sector by 2030. The government has committed £8.3 billion in public funding, with GBE aiming to mobilise an additional £15 billion in private finance. The plan targets 15 gigawatts of new clean energy generation and storage, enough to power 10 million homes. GBE will prioritise community energy projects, onshore clean energy, and offshore wind, operating as both a developer and investor. The initiative is expected to create 10,000+ jobs and support over 1,000 local energy projects.
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Further reading: Britain’s Great British Energy unveils plan to boost renewable power by 2030
Morocco accelerates renewable-powered desalination to combat deepening water crisis
Morocco plans to meet 60% of its drinking water needs through desalination by 2030, a major increase from 25%, as the country faces a seven-year drought and worsening climate change impacts. Water Minister Nizar Baraka outlined large investments in renewable-powered desalination plants, including a $1 billion facility near Tiznit with a 350 million m³ capacity supporting both cities and agriculture. Morocco currently operates 17 desalination plants, with four more under construction and additional projects entering tenders next year. To address severe water loss from dam evaporation, Morocco is also expanding floating solar panels across key reservoir regions.
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Further reading: Morocco to secure 60% of water needs from desalination, minister says
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Edison accelerates Italy’s renewable growth with major 2026 wind–solar investments
Italy’s Edison announced plans to invest over 600 million euros in new renewable energy projects starting next year, adding more than 500 MW of green capacity. This follows the 200 MW of wind and solar the company installed in 2025. The upcoming expansion includes around 300 MW of wind power and 200 MW of solar capacity, spread across Piedmont, Abruzzo, Campania, Puglia, and Sicily. Edison, the Italian subsidiary of EDF, aims to double its total renewable portfolio in the coming years. The company is also evaluating pumped hydro storage solutions to boost grid flexibility, energy resilience, and support Italy’s long-term decarbonisation strategy.
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Further reading: Edison to launch 600 mln euro renewable projects in Italy next year
Stafford consolidates global timber assets into $1.2B fund targeting long-term 8% returns
Stafford Capital Partners has combined assets from three of its timber funds into a new $1.2 billion perpetual timberland fund, retaining 73% of existing investors amid strong institutional interest. The Stafford International Timberland Continuation Fund holds 74 assets originally from SIT funds VI, VII, and VIII, covering 6.3 million acres across the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and Latin America. Backing includes major UK Local Government Pension Funds, which account for 54% of commitments. Continuation funds allow managers to maintain high-performing assets rather than sell them prematurely. Stafford aims to sell down 28% of the portfolio gradually and deliver a cash yield above 8% over the next decade.
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Further reading: Stafford Capital launches $1.2 billion timber fund, targets 8% yield
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by the authors are their own, not those of impakter.com — Cover Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
