RWE says net zero a 'monumental opportunity' for East Anglia

We have ambitious plans to expand our UK footprint even further, with over 17GW of renewables at various stages of development. To achieve this, RWE intends to maintain the pace of our investment, with an ambition to invest €8 billion net in the years 2024 to 2030 in developing clean energy projects up and down the UK.

Much of that investment is happening right here in East Anglia – with the region playing host to a range of major renewable assets that are leading the way towards net zero, and gas power stations that are on the road to decarbonisation.

That investment is providing significant support for jobs and wider economic development right across East Anglia’s industrial heartlands and coastal communities.

Growing up and starting my career in Lowestoft, I am delighted to see East Anglia at the heart of the UK’s journey towards clean power. The region really is a microcosm of RWE’s and the UK’s transition to net zero, and as RWE’s east coast director I’m excited to be leading on much of this work.

Corrine Barry, east coast director at RWE (Image: RWE) Take our significant east coast offshore wind portfolio. These represent a significant part of the UK’s offshore portfolio, with around 10GW of renewable generation capacity in construction or development.

This is in addition to our existing operational portfolio, with sites like Galloper – one of the first major offshore wind projects I worked on – as well as Scroby Sands, Greater Gabbard, and London Array a little further south.

Those are just the beginning – our newly acquired Norfolk Zone from Vattenfall is the latest jewel in RWE’s crown – at 4.2GW this will be one of the largest offshore wind developments in the world. And further exciting plans are on the horizon, like our extension projects North Falls and Five Estuaries.

And it doesn’t stop at offshore. RWE has a small onshore wind presence with Stags Holt and Bradwell, and we have potential to develop more clean power through solar.

Alongside all that, we’re actively exploring options to decarbonise our gas plants across the UK with carbon capture or hydrogen combustion, and have already announced plans to explore the use of carbon capture at Great Yarmouth.

This will be critical to decarbonising the vital, firm, flexible generation that we will need for decades to come, complementing intermittent renewables in a net zero energy system.

All these technologies will play an important role in decarbonising UK power, while maintaining vital security of supply and protecting energy independence.

There is a monumental opportunity here for East Anglia. As host to all these technologies, the region will be instrumental to the UK’s net zero journey. In return, it will benefit from major investment, growth and jobs to continue transforming the communities that host our infrastructure.