Government accused of 'ignoring region' with jobs and billions in investment at risk
An energy chief in the east has blasted the government for 'ignoring the region once again', saying thousands of jobs and billions of pounds of investment are on the line.
Labour has announced that thousands of civil servants will be moved out of London and relocated to 13 regional hubs to develop and deliver policy across the UK – but none will be located here in the east of England.
Kevin Keable, chairman of the east of England Energy Group (EEEGR), says the government has 'blatantly ignored' the region despite desperately needing it to meet its ambitious clean energy and net zero targets.
'We are being ignored,' he said.
Kevin Keable, chairman of the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR) (Image: Newsquest)
'I think where we have naturally fallen down is that we're not an industrial area like Humberside or Teesside. We just don't have that level of industry here.
'But they couldn't even put one person here. Not one, despite this region being absolutely critical to the government to hit its 2030 and 2050 targets. There's no doubt about that.
'Without us it can't happen.'
The government has announced thousands of civil servants will be moved out of London to 13 regional hubs - but none will be in the east of England (Image: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) The move comes as the government aims to cut the number of civil service roles in London by 12,000 and close 11 offices in the capital to save £94m a year by 2032.
Plans also include a new energy campus in Aberdeen - the site of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's (DESNZ) second headquarters.
Aberdeen is also home to the new government-owned clean energy company, Great British Energy.
Kevin Keable, chairman of the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), speaking at a reception with the region's energy sector at the House of Commons in April (Image: EEEGR) 'Aberdeen won the lottery back in the 1980s when companies moved there, even though we kicked off the oil and gas industry here in the east,' Mr Keable said.
'They have a lot more jobs to lose and Aberdeen relies more heavily than we do on oil and gas and the energy industry in general, with a lot more people employed in it.
'But we've got ports in Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Harwich that are capable of doing more for the wind industry and an awful lot more for decommissioning.
"However, unless they listen to us we're not going to get that investment.
'We're also working hard on skills, but we seem to be on our own as they don't engage with us – and they really need to.'
Great Yarmouth port (Image: Alamy/PA)GREAT BRITISH ENERGY
GB Energy was set up by the Labour government last year to accelerate the transition to clean, home-grown energy, and make Britain a "clean energy superpower".
Its new director of supply chain, Rob Gilbert, attended SNS2025 - an annual two-day energy conference and exhibition at the Norfolk Showground - last week.
Speaking at the event, he said the east of England is a critical region for the UK's energy transition because of its diverse energy mix, skills and experience.
Rob Gilbert, interim director of supply chain, Great British Energy (Image: Great British Energy) 'We are here to support the supply chain and the port authorities that are the life blood of the industry,' he said.
GB Energy announced £300m of investment in the UK's offshore wind supply chain in April.
Mr Gilbert said the investment is needed during 'turbulent times' for global developers, with Ørsted abandoning its Hornsea 4 offshore wind project off the coast of Yorkshire.
'Hornsea 4 shows how critical the supply chain is in whether projects do and don't happen,' he said.
'It is a reality that our supply chain is too exposed to global factors.'
Orsted's Hornsea 3 is currently in development off the coast of Norfolk. Once complete, it will be the world's largest offshore windfarm (Image: Ørsted) He said GB Energy can directly invest in the supply chain, supporting local businesses in the east.
'We believe that the answer is here – in investment in clean and green manufacturing, technology, knowledge and unlocking long term export potential.'
'UK'S FUTURE DEPENDS ON US'
Last month, more than 200 delegates from the east of England's energy sector descended on Westminster for a reception at the House of Commons.
Delegates called on the government to help deliver projects in the region, which they said could create 20,000 jobs and hundreds of new businesses locally.
But Mr Keable said just five MPs and ministers turned up to the event, after 61 were invited.
More than 200 delegates from the East of England's energy sector attended the reception at the House of Commons in April (Image: EEEGR) 'The east of England is at the centre of the UK's energy transition,' he said. 'It must not be overlooked by Westminster investment rounds again.
'From offshore wind and nuclear, to hydrogen, carbon capture and gas, our unique all-energy mix underpins UK supply.
"We have more Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) than any other region.
'If the UK is serious about net zero and energy security, investment must flow through here. The UK's energy future depends on us.
"Our message it clear: invest in the east of England to ensure future energy security and stop the climate targets slipping out of reach.'
Orsted's operational Hornsea 1 offshore windfarm (Image: Orsted)EAST'S FIVE ENERGY DEMANDS
The east's energy sector has five demands for the government, highlighting the full scope of the region's capability and its national significance.
1. STABILISE OFFSHORE WIND
The east already delivers five gigawatts (GW) of clean electricity from more than 1,000 wind turbines - with more than a quarter (28pc) of the UK's operational offshore wind located in East Anglia, according to Lowestoft-based TGS 4C Offshore.
Windfarms off the coast of East Anglia (Image: TGS 4C Offshore)
But with another 10GW in the pipeline and tens of billions of pounds in private investment at stake, Mr Keable said government clarity and support is needed to 'unlock investment, create thousands of jobs, regenerate deprived coastal communities and reduce economic inactivity across the region'.
Windfarms off the east coast will power almost 20m UK homes by 2035, accounting for a third of the UK's offshore wind output.
In ten years' time, the UK will be home to 46.1GW of operational offshore wind, of which 15.2GW (33pc) will be here in East Anglia – equivalent to powering 19.2m homes.
TGS 4C Offshore predicts that by 2035 more than 30,000 jobs could revolve around East Anglian offshore wind.
Once complete, Ørsted's Hornsea 3 will be the world's largest offshore windfarm, 75 miles off the Norfolk coast.
2. GREEN LIGHT SIZEWELL C
The Sizewell C nuclear power station on the east Suffolk coast could supply 6m homes with low-carbon electricity, providing at least 60 years of clean power and employing 900 people.
What the Sizewell C nuclear power station on the east Suffolk coast could look like (Image: Sizewell C) The region's nuclear contribution began 64 years ago with Sizewell A - one of the first ten nuclear power plants worldwide – followed by Sizewell B and now the planned Sizewell C.
But the project still needs to receive the green light from the government.
'Giving the final go ahead to Sizewell C will bring forward the delivery of 3.2GW of clean baseload electricity, stabilise the energy supply chain in our region, and build confidence in long-term skills development,' Mr Keable said.
'A forward-looking approach to Sizewell C creates transferrable nuclear and engineering skills, critical for sustaining local talent and attracting future investment.
'Sizewell C is a cornerstone of the UK's energy future.'
3. UNBLOCK THE GRID
To deliver offshore wind energy, the sector is calling for the Norwich to Tilbury pylon route and associated grid infrastructure to proceed without delay.
Norwich to Tilbury must proceed without delay, the east's energy sector says (Image: Newsquest) "Delays risk undermining decades of regional planning and billions in renewable investment and the prospect of skilled, long-term local jobs," Mr Keable said.
"Working in tandem with the National Electricity Systems Operator (NESO), Ofgem, local stakeholders and the delivery of swift planning approvals will ensure that the backbone of our low-carbon future is secured."
National Grid's external affairs director, Craig Rivett, said there can be 'no transition without transmission.'
Speaking at SNS2025, he said the current grid is not capable of transporting the amount energy needed to meet future power demands of UK homes and businesses from the growing number of offshore wind turbines and interconnectors.
He said the Great Grid Upgraded is now two years old and swift planning decisions are vital in securing a low carbon future.
4. BACK BACTON
Plans to transform Bacton Gas Terminal into an energy hub for hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage (CCS) must be backed with both investment and planning.
CCS prevents carbon dioxide - primarily produced by industry - from being released into the atmosphere by capturing and storing it underground.
There are plans to transform Bacton Gas Terminal into an energy hub for hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage (Image: Mike Page)
Earlier this year, Perenco began the UK's first carbon dioxide injection test for CCS in the Southern North Sea.
The test involved CO2 being injected into a depleted natural gas reservoir in the Leman gas field, 30 miles off the coast of Great Yarmouth.
READ MORE: New boost for plans to make Bacton a carbon capture and storage hub
"Bacton is ideally placed for pumping vast amounts of carbon under the North Sea," Mr Keable said.
Bacton Gas Terminal (Image: Mike Page) "We could pipe it across from Europe or any other industrial sector in the UK.
"If we could make Bacton an energy hub it would create jobs locally, enhancing business.
"If it's going to be done anywhere, Bacton is the place to do it."
5. INVEST IN THE FUTURE
A shortage of skilled workers threatens the delivery of projects in the east.
The sector is calling for flexible funding to invest in regional skills development and infrastructure tailored to the energy sector - from project managers and welders, to data scientists and AI specialists.
A new report by EastWind Offshore Cluster and Opergy has revealed that more than 6,500 extra offshore windfarm workers are needed in the east to meet the government's clean energy targets.
More than 6,500 extra offshore windfarm workers are needed in the east to meet the government's clean energy targets (Image: Stowen) "We need greater collaboration and support," Mr Keable added.
"Inclusive recruitment, adult retraining and technical apprenticeships must become the norm."
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