The renewable energy industry

The East of England, and in particular Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth, has a long and successful association with the energy industry, with over 50 years' experience in the offshore oil and gas industry. However, the burgeoning offshore energy industry has been identified as a major opportunity for the local area and the East of England as a whole.

The area is ideally placed for the offshore energy industry and this has been recognised by Government through the awarding of CORE (Centre for Offshore Renewable Engineering) status alongside Great Yarmouth - one of five locations in the country.

As part of its inward investment role, the Economic Regeneration Team work with a variety of district, county, regional and sub-regional partners through the Norfolk Suffolk Energy Alliance (NSEA) partnership. This group is believed to be the first example of its kind in the UK where the public sector is working across local boundaries with the private sector to jointly highlight the area's assets, facilities and skills base to potential energy employers and investors.

NSEA brings together a wealth of expertise from: Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Waveney and North Norfolk District Councils, the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), the region's energy sector industry body, and the Chambers of Commerce for Norfolk and Suffolk.

NSEA promote the regional offer through the East of England Energy Zone branding and have produced a set of business information datasheets on a range of topics. 

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A factsheet has been produced entitled Spotlight on Energy which provides a short summary of the activity taking place in Lowestoft to support the renewable energy sector.