East coast predicted to see more wind farms built

The partnership between Great British Energy - the government’s state-owned energy company - and the Crown Estate hopes to help deliver new offshore wind projects to power 20 million homes.

The government says the initiative will make Britain a “clean energy superpower”, which will be backed with £8.3bn in state funding over the next five years, paid for by a windfall tax on oil and gas companies - with hopes to also attract £60bn of private investment.

Sir Keir Starmer promised “clean energy by 2030, cheaper bills, and good jobs across the country” as legislation to create Great British Energy was introduced in Westminster on Thursday. 

Offshore windfarms in the east (Image: Julian Claxton)

The Crown Estate, which manages a portfolio of property and land and helps fund the Royal Family, will lease the government land to build the windfarms.

The estate owns most of the seabed, which stretches up to 12 nautical miles from the mainland.

'MAJOR BOOST'

In a joint statement, Lexi Brackpool, project manager for EastWind, a sector council of the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), and Kevin Keable, EEEGR chair, said: “A partnership between Great British Energy and the Crown Estate could signal a major boost for the offshore wind sector in the east of England.

"The potential for up to £60bn in private investment could fund extensive offshore wind projects off the coast of East Anglia, enhancing the region’s already important role in the UK’s clean energy infrastructure.

"Bolstered by £8.3bn in government backing and with the promise of halving the time it takes to bring offshore wind projects online, the announcement will go a long way to addressing the challenges faced by offshore wind developers, especially investor confidence in developments, and the knock-on effects to the supply chain and economy.

Kevin Keable, chair of the East Of England Energy Group (EEEGR) (Image: Newsquest)

“As the offshore wind cluster for the east of England, EastWind and Sector Council of the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), we look forward to seeing the positive impact this partnership will have on offshore wind projects off the east of England coast, the development of our regional and local supply chain, regional economic growth and the creation of local jobs.

"We will be following the next stages with interest, as we continue to work with our network and stakeholders, to strengthen our region’s position as leaders in offshore wind.”

The partnership could be a major boost for the east's offshore wind sector (Image: PA)

'COLLABORATION IS KEY' 

Johnathan Reynolds, managing director of Opergy Group, based in Norwich, added: "The pace of change the new government is making on clean energy, and addressing climate change, is impressive.

"The new GB Energy Bill is yet another pivotal step towards delivering a cleaner energy future and regaining some of the political leadership we need.

"The partnership approach with the Crown Estate to develop 20 to 30GW of offshore wind by 2030 is certainly welcomed, expediting project delivery and reducing development."

ONSHORE WIND PROJECTS

Chancellor Rachel Reeves recently also announced the end of an “absurd ban” on new onshore wind projects, committing to double onshore wind energy by 2030.

Onshore wind turbines in the east (Image: Newsquest)

READ MORE: End of 'absurd' onshore wind ban could mean multi-billion-pound boost for East

EEEGR’s partner RenewableUK said that the efficiency and power of modern turbines means doubling the UK’s onshore wind capacity by 2030 will not mean doubling the number of turbines.

Its research claims that delivering 30GW of onshore wind by the end of the decade would boost the UK economy by £45bn and create 27,000 jobs.