A new communications campaign, Net Zero East, has launched to provide clear, coordinated information about the changing energy landscape in the East of England and to support communities in understanding and engaging with the UK’s transition to net zero.
Net Zero East is a collaborative communications campaign developed by energy developers and local partners, working closely with government departments, regulators and system operators. Its purpose is to provide consistent, transparent and accessible information about energy infrastructure projects across the East of England.
The campaign was initiated through the Strategic Communications and Engagement Group, convened by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). The group includes representatives from developers of major infrastructure projects across the East of England, including those focused on nuclear, offshore wind, solar and electricity transmission. Members include Sizewell C, RWE, National Grid, Equinor, Tarchon Interconnector, SSE Renewables, Tribus Energy, and EDF Power Solutions, with input from Ofgem, the National Energy System Operator (NESO), and GB Energy. The group is independently chaired by Johnathan Reynolds.
This campaign is not about making the case for any individual project. Developers will continue to lead their own consultation, consent and communications activity. Instead, Net Zero East is about telling a shared narrative rooted in facts, transparency and a commitment to open dialogue. It aims to help bust myths, provide communities with clear and accessible information, and show that developers are both communicating and collaborating.
The new collaborative campaign recognises that energy infrastructure can raise valid concerns, but also deliver significant benefits for energy security, climate and environmental protection, and long-term opportunities for investment, jobs and business growth. The campaign also seeks to learn from local voices and ensure community insight continues to shape how projects are delivered.
“As new energy infrastructure is developed, people rightly want to understand what it means for them and their communities. Net Zero East aims to make those conversations clearer and more constructive,” said a campaign spokesperson.
The East of England is a key region for UK energy, already home to over 5GW of operational offshore wind with a further 10GW in development; Sizewell B and the new Sizewell C nuclear power project in Suffolk; more than 4GW of solar projects including Longfield Solar and Sunnica; and several nationally significant grid projects such as Norwich to Tilbury, and Sealink connections. While these developments are essential to meeting national targets on energy security and decarbonisation, they also bring local concerns around disruption, planning, and coordination.
Net Zero East aims to address these by:
- Supporting better public understanding of what projects are happening and why.
- Enabling developers and statutory bodies to align messages and avoid confusion.
- Highlighting the wider economic, social and environmental benefits to the region.
- Providing a gateway to events, consultations and opportunities to get involved.
The campaign is digital-first, with a public-facing website at www.netzeroeast.uk offering project explainers, myth-busting content and links to ongoing engagement activities. It will also feature a calendar of upcoming consultation and community events, as well as links to live project works trackers where available.
Net Zero East will run throughout 2025 and is overseen by the Strategic Communications and Engagement Group, with participation from industry and government. The campaign will continue to develop and evolve to inform communities as projects are planned, approved and built, supporting the delivery of a cleaner, more resilient energy system for the UK, with communities in the East of England at its heart.
