UK Wind Energy Week: East at the forefront of energy sector

With more than 1,000 offshore wind turbines generating enough electricity to power five million homes, Kevin Keable, chair of the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), says the region is already a major player in the offshore wind sector.

And with several projects in development off the coast of the East of England – including what will be the world’s largest offshore wind farm – the region will soon generate enough electricity to power a further 10 million homes.

READ MORE: £80 billion boost for East's industry-leading energy projects

“Climate change and energy security have been spoken of a lot over the recent years and in the run up to the General Election,” Mr Keable said, speaking on the first day of UK Wind Week 2024 (June 24 to 28).

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

“We are using an increasing amount of electricity to power our homes, businesses and cars, which is not good for the climate – unless that electricity is created using renewable sources, such as wind.

“The wind industry has been in this region for more than two decades and many of the world’s wind farm developers are active in our region.

"This means that our ports - an essential element in wind farm construction and maintenance - have received huge investments for expansion and modernisation, and that our supply chain is thriving.

“We are lucky to be at the forefront of an industry which is clean and growing, and the envy of the world.”

READ MORE: East's 'huge opportunity' to lead the decarbonisation of UK energy sector

Kevin Keable, chair of the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), speaking at the Southern North Sea Conference (SNS2024) at the Norfolk Showground (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Renewables now account for more than 40pc of the country’s electricity – up from just 7pc in 2010.

By 2030, fossil fuel-free generation from the East could power the equivalent of 90pc homes in the UK – half of which will be from wind.