Welcome back to The Strawman, the daily climate newsletter that’s faster than the UK’s transformer supply chain (though that’s not saying much). Today, we’re looking at how equipment delays could slow the UK’s clean energy revolution.

A Supply Chain Bottleneck

On a quiet stretch of marshland near Tilbury, England, sits a battery storage site that could power 700,000 homes—if it weren’t for 16-month delays in getting key components like transformers. As clean energy demand surges, manufacturers are struggling to keep up, with wait times for high-voltage equipment stretching up to four years.

Transformers, switchgears, and circuit breakers aren’t just minor details—they’re the beating heart of the energy grid. Without them, solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries can’t connect to the grid, leaving the UK’s 2030 clean power goals hanging in the balance.

Why This Matters

The UK’s National Energy System Operator has warned that this is a “once-in-a-generation” delivery challenge, with risks that supply chains could “overheat” and push up energy costs. Over the past three years, transformer prices have climbed 40% to 60%, with some large models jumping from $2 million to $2.9 million.

Manufacturers like GE Vernova, Hitachi Energy, and Siemens Energy are trying to scale up, but they’re cautious. Expanding capacity takes time—you can’t just build a factory overnight. Training skilled workers to operate specialised equipment can take up to two years. Without predictable long-term demand, companies are reluctant to over-invest.

A Game of Whack-a-Mole

Transformers are just the tip of the iceberg. Wind turbines, vessels, and floating foundations are facing even bigger supply constraints. To energy developers, it’s a constant game of whack-a-mole—solve one supply chain issue, and another pops up. Even circuit breakers are taking two years to manufacture.

These bottlenecks are why analysts at Cornwall Insight predict the UK will miss its 2030 clean power targets. Meeting those goals will require a complete overhaul of Britain’s industrial capacity and a workforce ready for the energy transition, according to Lord John Spellar.

The Strawman’s Takeaway

The UK’s clean energy future depends on more than just ambition—it needs infrastructure, investment, and patience. Until manufacturers ramp up capacity, the country’s energy transition will feel more like a marathon with hurdles than a sprint.