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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, where there is a substantial proportion of the UK’s offshore wind portfolio with 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.
The below highlights the key projects in development offshore and onshore, across different technologies, outlining where they are and what they promise, along with visuals courtesy of Opergy’s NZ E-Map platform, 2hidh features more than 300 layers and has access to a further 500 – if required. The NZ E-Map platform looks at key infrastructure and data around carbon baselining, helping to build the most comprehensive picture possible to transform how businesses and communities are able to understand and interact with their environments. Contact the Opergy team to learn more.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish Power Renewables | 800MW | Southern North Sea – 43km off the Suffolk Coast |
All 67 offshore wind turbines will be situated 37km off the Suffolk coast, with the capacity to produce 800MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm will produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 660,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish Power Renewables | 900MW | Southern North Sea – 32km off the Suffolk Coast |
All 75 offshore wind turbines will be situated 32km off the Suffolk Coast, with the capacity to produce 900MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm will produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 800,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish Power Renewables | 1,400MW | Southern North Sea – 69km off the Suffolk Coast |
All 100 offshore wind turbines will be situated 69km off the Suffolk Coast, with the capacity to produce 1,400MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm will produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 1 Million homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| RWE | 2,800MW | Southern North Sea – 50 to 80km off the Norfolk Coast |
There is expected to be between 120-145 turbines per site. Both the Norfolk Vanguard East and West projects are situated between 50 and 80km off the Norfolk Coast, with the capacity to produce 2,800MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm will produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 1.85 Million homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| RWE | 1,400MW | Southern North Sea – 50km off the Norfolk Coast |
There will be 100 turbines located 50km off the Norfolk Coast, with the capacity to produce 1,400MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm will produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 975,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| RWE | n/a | Southern North Sea – 37 km off the Suffolk Coast |
Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm is the proposed extension to the operational Galloper Wind Farm. Comprising up to 79 offshore wind turbines and located approximately 37 km off the coast of Suffolk. The Project will generate enough electricity to power up to hundreds of thousands of UK households each year. RWE is leading the development on behalf of the project partners.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| RWE & SSE | n/a | Southern North Sea – 40km off the Essex Coast |
North Falls Offshore Wind Farm is the proposed extension to the southern array of the operational Greater Gabbard Wind Farm. There is expected to be up to 57 turbines, approximately 40km off the Essex coast, with the capacity to produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 400,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| Equinor | 402MW | Southern North Sea – 32km off the Norfolk Coast |
Dudgeon Extension Offshore Wind Farm is the proposed extension of the operational Dudgeon Wind Farm. There is expected to be 34 turbines, 32km off the Norfolk Coast, with the capacity to produce 402MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm will produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 410,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| Equinor | 317MW | Southern North Sea – 17km off the Norfolk Coast |
Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm is the proposed extension of the operational Sheringham Shoal Wind Farm. There is expected to be around 20 turbines, 17km off the Norfolk Coast, with the capacity to produce 317MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm will produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 350,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| RWE | 60MW | Southern North Sea – 2.5km off the Norfolk Coast |
Scroby Sands has 29 operational turbines that are located 2.5km off the Norfolk coast, with the capacity to produce 60MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm produces enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 48,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| SSE / RWE | 504MW | Southern North Sea – 20km off the Suffolk Coast |
Greater Gabbard has 140 turbines that are located 20km off the Suffolk Coast, with the capacity to produce 504MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm produces enough renewable energy to power 444,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| RWE | 353MW | Southern North Sea – 30km off the Suffolk Coast |
Galloper has 56 turbines that are located 30km off the Suffolk coast, with the capacity to produce 353MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm produces enough renewable energy to power 444,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| Orsted | 172MW | Southern North Sea – 7km off the Suffolk Coast |
Gunfleet Sands has 48 turbines that are 7km off the Suffolk Coast, with the capacity to produce 172MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm will produce enough renewable energy to power 125,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| Equinor | 402MW | Southern North Sea – 32km off the Norfolk Coast |
Dudgeon has 67 turbines that are 32km off the Norfolk Coast, with the capacity to produce 402MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm will produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 430,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| Equinor | 317MW | Southern North Sea – 17km off the Norfolk Coast |
Sheringham Shoal has 88 turbines located 17km off the Norfolk Coast, with the capacity to produce 317MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm will produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 280,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| Orsted | 573MW | Southern North Sea – 27k off the Norfolk Coast |
Race Bank has 91 turbines located 27km off the Norfolk Coast, with the capacity to produce 573MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm will produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 500,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish Power Renewables | 714MW | Southern North Sea – 43km off the Suffolk Coast |
East Anglia ONE has 102 turbines located 43km off the Suffolk Coast, with the capacity to produce 714MW of clean energy. Each year, the windfarm will produce enough renewable energy to power the equivalent of more than 630,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| EDF Energy | 1,198 MW | Suffolk Coast |
Sizewell B, located on the Suffolk coast, is the UK’s only commercial Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) nuclear power station. With a capacity of 1,198 MW, it produces enough clean energy to power approximately 2.5 million homes annually. Since its commissioning in 1995, Sizewell B has been a cornerstone in providing reliable, low-carbon energy and plays a vital role in the nation’s energy security.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| EDF Energy | 1,198 MW | Suffolk Coast |
Sizewell C is one of the UK’s largest new construction projects, being built adjacent to Sizewell B on the Suffolk coast. Once operational, this new nuclear power station will have a capacity of 3,200 MW, enough to supply over 6 million homes with low-carbon electricity. Sizewell C aims to significantly bolster the UK’s energy security, while supporting the transition to a net-zero carbon economy.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| EDF Energy Renewables | Planned Capacity: 500MW | Essex |
Capable of providing enough clean energy to 96,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Output | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sunnica Energy Farm | 500MW | Cambridgeshire |
Capable of providing enough clean energy to 100,000 homes.
| Project Name | Project Type | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| National Grid Electricity Transmission | Grid Upgrade | Suffolk and Essex |
The Bramford to Twinstead project is a critical grid upgrade within the Great Grid Upgrade initiative. It is designed to enhance electricity transmission between Bramford in Suffolk and Twinstead in Essex. This upgrade aims to increase the network’s capacity, improve the reliability of electricity supply across the region, and facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources.
| Project Name | Project Type | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| National Grid Electricity Transmission | Grid Upgrade | Southern North Sea |
Sea Link is a grid reinforcement project that establishes a new, primarily offshore, 2 gigawatt high voltage direct current (HVDC) link between Suffolk and Kent. This project is specifically engineered to enhance the electricity network’s capacity, allowing for more efficient transportation of low carbon and renewable energy from where it is generated to homes and businesses nationwide. By boosting the grid’s capability to handle sustainable energy, Sea Link facilitates a more robust and reliable energy supply, critical for supporting the UK’s energy transition goals.
| Project Name | Project Type | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| National Grid Ventures | Multi-Purpose Interconnector | Between the UK and France |
Lion Link represents a significant development in cross-channel energy cooperation, connecting the UK with France. As a multi-purpose interconnector, it serves dual roles in energy transmission and market integration, enabling more efficient energy exchanges and bolstering renewable energy use across both nations.
| Project Name | Project Type | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| National Grid | Multi-Purpose Interconnector | Between the UK and Belgium |
Nautilus is a strategic multi-purpose interconnector facilitating energy transmission between the UK and Belgium. This project enhances the operational flexibility of the grid, supports energy market integration, and plays a crucial role in stabilising energy prices while promoting the use of renewable sources.
| Project Name | Project Type | Project Location |
|---|---|---|
| Tarchon | Interconnector | Between the UK and Germany |
Tarchon will create a direct power link between Germany and Great Britain, connecting the two countries’ energy markets and increasing the security and reliability of their electrical systems and energy demand.