Renewable energy is a big opportunity for our region–we must seize it

Yahoo

2 days ago

East Anglia is at the centre of the UK's renewable energy sector.
Take offshore wind alone – we are home to 44% of the UK's existing offshore wind farms.
With 3.6 GW already operational and a further 10 GW of projects in the pipeline, we have a crucial role to play.
Data from CBI Economics (2025) show that almost one million full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs are currently supported by the clean energy and net zero economy — that includes 83,400 in the East of England.
The Labour Government is serious about seizing the opportunity of renewable energy for our country and our region, delivering clean energy jobs for the UK, boosting energy security and economic growth.
Recently, I visited Scroby Sands, a wind farm, which lies off the coast of Great Yarmouth with the company RWE.
Commissioned in 2004, Scroby Sands powers the electricity needs for approximately 48,000 homes – the equivalent of all the homes in King's Lynn and already provides many jobs.
We have even greater potential in East Anglia.
The proposed Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone is made up of Vanguard West, Vanguard East, and Boreas.
Once up and running, it would be one of the biggest wind clusters in the world with a combined generating capacity of 4.2 GW (1 GW more than Sizewell), producing enough electricity to power the equivalent of more than 4 million UK households.
This project would bring billions of pounds of investment and employment to Norfolk.
Many jobs would be created during the construction phases as well as long-term jobs during the operations phases.
There are also many more opportunities in the broader supply chain.
Those jobs are much needed in Norfolk and would create opportunities for our young people now and in the future.
To progress these projects, it is vital that the upcoming Contract for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 7 (AR7) auction is a success.
The CfD scheme guarantees a fixed price to energy companies for their electricity, helping to encourage investment in clean energy projects.
Yet, recently Reform's Deputy Leader Richard Tice wrote to the heads of eight energy companies, including RWE, putting them 'on notice' and warning that any companies entering this auction round would do so at their 'own risk'.
In May, he also said that Reform would use "every lever" to block renewable energy developments in the councils they now control.
This would be bad for jobs, bad for consumers, bad for energy security and bad for our country.
In 2024, the clean energy economy nationally grew by more than 10% and generates £83.1 billion in Gross Added Value for Britain.
It would also have a retrograde impact on Norfolk and the East of England more broadly, putting the thousands of jobs that could be created through clean energy at risk.
Failing to back renewable energy is not only failing to back British jobs but also failing to back the action needed to get energy bills down and to tackle climate change.
We have seen what happens when we are too dependent on foreign gas – bills soar and we have little control.
That's one of the reasons why investing in British renewables is vital.
So, is Reform happy for us to remain reliant on expensive foreign fossil fuels rather than cheap, homegrown, clean energy?
I know that my constituents in Norwich North want lower energy bills and investing in renewables is part of the answer.
So, why would a political party oppose such vital projects and the opportunities they would bring to regions like ours?
It seems to me that they are willing to put ideology before our national interest.
This is in stark contrast to the Labour Government's clean energy mission.
Since July 2024, over £40 billion of private investment has been announced into the UK's clean energy industries - helping to kick-start the economy to put more money in people's pockets.
The economic scale of the opportunity and prize on offer to Norfolk and the wider region is huge.
Backing investment in clean energy is backing Britain.
*Alice MacDonald is the MP for Norwich North.