East of England set for £60bn energy investment as leaders push for faster delivery
Around 200 energy industry leaders from across the East of England are descending on Westminster today
The East of England is being positioned as a cornerstone of the UK’s energy future, with tens of billions of pounds set to be invested across Norfolk and Suffolk over the coming decades.
Today a 200-strong united delegation from the east of England energy industry is descending on The House of Commons to deliver its clear and practical answer to government on how our region can secure energy, reduce costs and drive economic growth at pace.
Leaders from across the sector say the region, already responsible for around a third of the UK’s electricity and gas, is ready to scale up production across offshore wind, nuclear, hydrogen, carbon capture and emerging technologies.
A 200-strong delegation from the industry is set to gather in Westminster this week, bringing together companies, supply chain firms and training providers to press MPs and ministers on how to accelerate delivery.
"We can make bills more stable and bring them down over time.”
The event, hosted by Jess Asato, will focus on unlocking investment, improving infrastructure and ensuring local communities benefit from the growth.
She said the government’s approach centres on both affordability and long-term security.
“The government’s energy plans is about both delivering cheaper bills, but also national energy security,” she said.
“A more secure energy system helps protect people from the kind of price shocks that we’ve seen in recent days and years.”
She added that increasing domestic energy generation could help stabilise costs over time, although households should not expect immediate reductions.
“No single policy guarantees lower bills overnight… but by generating more of our own energy and fixing how the system works, we can make bills more stable and bring them down over time.”
The region’s energy mix, stretching from offshore wind in the North Sea to nuclear developments such as Sizewell C, is already attracting significant investment, with industry figures estimating around £60 billion will be spent across the sector.
Kevin Keable, chair of the East of England Energy Group, said the scale of that investment presents a major opportunity for both counties.
“We’ve got £60 billion being spent… in nuclear, in wind, and potentially in carbon storage and hydrogen production… and the grid,” he said.
He added that ensuring local people benefit from that growth is essential.
“We’ve at least got to give them jobs in the energy sector,” he said.
About the expansion
Industry leaders say the expansion could support tens of thousands of jobs, strengthen supply chains and create new opportunities for businesses of all sizes, from large developers to smaller firms providing services and support.
However, there are also warnings that infrastructure must keep pace, with calls to speed up grid connections, improve onshore facilities and remove planning delays.
Ms Asato said that while investment is already being seen across the region, more needs to be done to ensure benefits are felt locally.
“Local people who are seeing disruption in their lives because of big energy projects… are right to expect to see something in return,” she said.
She pointed to job creation, skills investment and education as key priorities, including initiatives aimed at supporting both young people and those looking to retrain.
The Westminster event will bring together representatives from offshore wind, nuclear, gas, hydrogen and skills organisations, alongside apprentices and trainees, to highlight the role the East of England can play in delivering the UK’s long-term energy strategy.
Leaders say the focus now is on turning ambition into action, ensuring that investment, infrastructure and workforce development move forward at pace.