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Discover the background that makes the East of England such a pivotal part of the UK’s energy transition.
The East of England’s strategic location offers unique opportunities for collaboration and partnership in energy. With its proximity to Europe and established infrastructure networks, the region serves as a gateway for energy trading and cooperation, fostering international relations and driving innovation across borders.
The climate is changing, driving extreme weather events; we have already seen some of the hottest days on record, while also seeing increased rainfall bringing with it dangerous, disruptive flooding.
We know that this is a sign of things to come and cannot afford to sit back and do nothing. These challenges will only grow more and more pressing in the months and years that lie ahead.
That is why the UK is working to cut its carbon emissions relative to 1990 by 68% by 2030. That is why the UK wants to bring emissions down to net zero by 2050. But delivering these targets will take work, requiring a range of different technologies.
It will very much be a case of out with the old – oil and gas, which the UK has long been reliant on – and in with the new – solar, wind and new nuclear – to realise a cleaner, greener energy future.
But this infrastructure has to go somewhere. The East of England in particular is set to play an influential role, already hosting plenty of projects and earmarked for many more. That’s no bad thing, especially considering how the East of England finds itself at the “sharp end of climate change” according to the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. In fact, it stands to benefit enormously.
The East faces some of the lowest average rainfall and highest average temperatures in England. Around 20% of the region is below sea-level. Some areas have a quarter of their properties at risk of flooding. The coastline is also eroding at a rapid pace. We cannot risk carrying on as we are.
While it is already too late to avoid some of the effects from rising temperatures, it is not too late to mitigate some of the very worst impacts.
Often celebrated as the UK’s “bread basket,” the East of England’s agricultural heritage has long been integral to the nation’s sustenance. Yet, what is less often recognised is its equally crucial role in ensuring the UK’s energy security. Since the 1960s, this region has been pivotal in powering the nation, beginning with the early adoption of nuclear technology at Sizewell A and continuing through to the present day.
The region was also home to the UK’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm at Scroby Sands, which marked a significant shift towards renewable energy sources over two decades ago. This early initiative has helped propel the East of England to the forefront of sustainable energy innovation, continuously expanding its contributions to renewable energy advancements.
The Bacton Gas Terminal on the North Norfolk coast, operational since 1968, processes about 30% of the UK’s domestic gas, highlighting the region’s long-standing commitment to robust energy infrastructure. This facility not only underscores the East of England’s role in meeting current energy demands but also its potential as a leader in the transition to a net-zero future.
By leveraging its rich energy heritage, the East of England continues to play a vital role in enhancing the nation’s energy security, demonstrating that it provides much more than agricultural produce; it is a cornerstone of the UK’s energy resilience.
The energy landscape in the East of England is developing at a swift pace.
As of 2023, its renewable and low carbon energy portfolio powered the equivalent of 33% of the UK’s homes. This is a figure that could climb to 90% as soon as 2035.
Off the shores of the region, the Southern North Sea is home to 37% of the UK’s offshore wind portfolio. It has more than 5GW of capacity. This will hit as much as 15GW in future based on projects in the pipeline.
East Anglia One North and East Anglia Two off the Suffolk coast were recently given approval and are set for construction, bringing with them 142 turbines and the capacity to power up to four million homes.
The government has thrown its weight behind nuclear power too, with the 3.2GW Sizewell C plant in Suffolk one of two under construction. The already operating 1.2GW Sizewell B station could potentially stick around until 2055 , with plans recently unveiled to extend its operational life by a further 20 years.
Beyond this, the region also has 1.5GW of solar energy, with another 180+ projects in the pipeline promising 4GW of power. This includes what would be Britain’s largest solar farm on the Suffolk-Cambridgeshire border – the 2,500-acre Sunnica project.
Looking once more offshore, the region hosts 139 oil and gas platforms which feed back into the nationally significant Bacton Gas Terminal. Bacton is responsible for around 30% of the UK’s gas and has already been earmarked as having the potential to play a crucial role in the UK’s hydrogen future.
