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Despite years of discussions and government intervention, the UK energy market remains broken, with businesses and consumers still suffering from skyrocketing costs. From April 2025 鈥� when most business energy contracts renew 鈥� the average annual electricity bill for a small business is forecast to hit over 拢13,264 ($17,179), 70% higher than the 拢7,811 paid before the energy crisis. But let鈥檚 be clear: Wind energy hasn鈥檛 suddenly become more expensive. The problem comes down to the very way that energy is bought and sold today. Despite renewable energy being the cheapest and most abundant source of power, UK energy prices are still dictated by fossil fuels 鈥� and tied to the price of global oil and gas markets that are at the mercy of speculation and geopolitics.

The UK鈥檚 energy debate has long been dominated by the idea of energy security 鈥� ensuring the country has enough supply to meet demand, often by expanding domestic generation and diversifying imports. But as recent price shocks have shown, security alone is not enough. The real issue isn鈥檛 just where our energy comes from but who controls it and how it鈥檚 priced. That鈥檚 the question no one is asking, but the answer could unlock significant economic freedom for all.

Relying on a Legacy System to Fix Itself

I鈥檝e worked in the energy sector for over a decade, and I鈥檓 still amazed at how tied we are to a legacy system designed for another era. Despite advancements in the way we manage supply and demand, forecasting, risk and the rise of renewable options at scale, the way we buy energy hasn鈥檛 fundamentally changed since the 1980s. Businesses and households are still locked into a wholesale market built around fossil fuel-era pricing mechanisms, where energy is traded in bulk through intermediaries rather than being accessed directly from generators.

Who loses? Almost everyone, but small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are bearing the brunt of this market dysfunction. They don鈥檛 have the capital or infrastructure to invest in renewable energy solutions directly, leaving them vulnerable to unpredictable energy prices.

Globally, energy markets are seeing the consequences of reliance on fossil fuels, which continue to dominate pricing. The UK is no exception, and unless there is a shift toward renewable energy sovereignty, the country will remain exposed to unpredictable energy markets. The lesson is clear 鈥� moving to a system where renewable energy can be priced on its own merits, without the influence of fossil fuels, is vital for economic and environmental stability.

Energy Sovereignty Begins With Price

Energy sovereignty means electrons produced on UK soil or seas rather than imported from the continent 鈥� thus shielded from geopolitics. It shifts ownership away from centralized, profit-driven utilities and puts power 鈥� literally and figuratively 鈥� back into the hands of the people.

So how do we get there? It starts with price. We need to first overhaul the energy transaction. That means enabling direct, transparent transactions between customers and generators, cutting out middlemen and the hidden fees that inflate costs. Right now, only the largest corporations can afford direct access to renewable energy through corporate power purchase agreements, while 99% of businesses are left paying inflated wholesale prices. If we want a system that truly works, we can鈥檛 just create exclusive pathways for the few, we need a full-scale pricing overhaul that benefits everyone. Whether you鈥檙e running a manufacturing plant or a small independent shop, this shift would be transformative. It would significantly reduce the energy burden on SMEs and empower consumers to take control of their energy future 鈥� as they should have been empowered to do all along.

Access to Secure, Localized Infrastructure

The UK has made significant investments in offshore wind 鈥� but ambition alone won鈥檛 keep the lights on. Without firm capacity, including reliable baseload power, we鈥檙e building a system that is good in theory but falls short in practice. To create a truly affordable renewables market, we must rethink how energy is distributed and who controls the generation. That means scaling storage, diversifying generation beyond wind or solar and backing policies that empower communities to set the price, not just propping up big utilities who want complete control. The UK has the potential to be a true energy superpower, but that future is determined by how quickly we can move on delivering secure, localized infrastructure.

Systemic Change Needs Technology

We need technology to break through the old guard thinking and inertia. Technology like ours isn鈥檛 just fixing the inequality problem at the periphery, it's fixing it at the core. Our transactions platform allows any business and renewable generator to buy and sell energy transparently and directly, eliminating the costs and inefficiencies of the wholesale market in one sweep. This is the beginning of building a true transparent market that will accelerate resilience, competition and long-lasting community empowerment. What we鈥檝e been able to build in such a short time is a promising signal of what鈥檚 to come, and we hope our story encourages more technologists to enter the space.

Unlocking Real Value

Once we decouple renewables from global fossil fuel pricing, we can finally price energy as it should be, based on its actual cost, availability and access. The ripple effect would be enormous. Imagine a world where energy bills drop by 25%, 50% even 90%? Imagine the innovation and economic growth that could follow? This isn鈥檛 just about keeping the lights on. It鈥檚 about creating an energy system that fuels business growth, economic resilience and long-term prosperity.

If the UK is serious about energy security and protecting its economy from future crises, we must move toward energy sovereignty. That鈥檚 the only path to a market that is fair, independent and resilient. Because the energy crisis isn鈥檛 just a matter of supply. It鈥檚 about control. And until we shift that control back to where it belongs, we鈥檒l always be at the mercy of forces beyond our reach.

Securing the UK鈥檚 Energy Future

Only by taking control of its energy future can the UK build a market that is fair, sustainable and independent of the volatility of global markets. By transitioning to a system where power is decoupled from fossil fuels, the UK can unlock a future in which businesses thrive, consumers pay fair prices and the nation cements its position as a global leader in sustainable energy.

Joe McDonald is the CEO and co-founder of tem, an AI-driven platform that allows UK businesses to buy energy directly from renewable generators. The views expressed in this article are those of the author.