About Energy
The East of England is one of the largest, fastest growing and most diverse regions in the United Kingdom which comprises of six counties: Bedfordshire, Hertforshire, Essex, Cambridge, Norfolk and Suffolk. It is the second largest region in England with an area of over 19 square killometres.
The section of the website profiles of the East of Englands strengths in energy.
- World-class expertise with R&D expenditure three times the national average;
- Excellence in further and higher education;
- A well-established manufacturing base;
- Clusters of leading-edge high-technology businesses working in partnerships and close networks;
- One of the largest concentrations of new and growing businesses in the country;
- Fast access to London, without the associated costs of a capital city.
Gas and oil from the North Sea have become a cornerstone of the East of England's energy sector since their discovery more than 40 years ago.
Starting from those early days both Norfolk and the Waveney area of Suffolk have helped make the region a national centre for offshore activity by building and maintaining a strong workforce, infrastructure and supply chain which is in demand locally, nationally and internationally.
Yet, as the UK Continental Shelf becomes increasingly mature, the North Sea has reached a crossroads. Realising that oil and gas still offer strong prospects of sustained activity, new, independent companies are entering the sector to exploit substantial remaining reserves.
However, maturity is still a fact of life and concerns about sustainable supplies, coupled with environmental issues, have led to a growing emphasis on alternative energy sources such as offshore wind.
