The Chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero (ESNZ) Committee has hailed the important role East Anglia is playing in building a low-carbon energy future for Britain during a visit to key energy projects in the region.

Chair Bill Esterson MP, alongside committee members including Claire Young MP, Luke Murphy MP, and Wera Hobhouse MP, toured the Port of Lowestoft – owned and operated by Associated British Ports (ABP) – and visited Sizewell C and ScottishPower Renewables’ East Anglia ONE operations and maintenance base as part of a two-day visit to the region.
Bill Esterson MP, Chair of the ESNZ Committee, said: “The Port of Lowestoft is an inspiring example of how the UK’s ports can support the energy transition, working collaboratively with projects like Sizewell C and ScottishPower Renewables.
“It’s impressive to see the progress being made here, from pioneering carbon capture technology to vital offshore wind energy operations. These initiatives highlight the important role East Anglia is playing in building a secure, sustainable, and low-carbon energy future for Britain. Crucially the projects we saw create well-paid jobs and can ultimately help deliver lower electricity bills.”
During the visit, the Committee toured ABP’s newly completed Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF), which was officially opened by Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero, Ed Miliband MP. LEEF is set to become a critical hub for offshore wind energy operations and demonstrates ABP’s commitment to enabling the energy transition.
They also explored the innovative Direct Air Capture (DAC) demonstrator facility, based at the Port of Lowestoft which is one of the UK’s first pilot projects for this cutting-edge technology, led by Sizewell C.
Paul Ager, Divisional Port Manager, Associated British Ports, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee to the Port of Lowestoft and showcase how ABP, alongside the likes of ScottishPower Renewables and SSE, are contributing to the UK’s energy transition. The completion of the Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility and our partnership with Sizewell C on the Direct Air Capture project underline our commitment to innovation and sustainability.
“These projects represent not just progress for the port but a significant step forward for the region’s economy and the UK’s energy security.”

The visit to the Port followed a tour of the main development site of Sizewell C, a new 3.2GW nuclear power station being built on the Suffolk coast. A British project, majority owned by the UK Government, Sizewell C will provide low-carbon electricity to six million homes for at least 60 years and save nine million tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere annually.
Julia Pyke, Joint Managing Director of Sizewell C, said: “It was a pleasure to show the ESNZ Committee the significant progress we’re making at Sizewell C, twelve months after starting construction here on the Suffolk coast.
“East Anglia is setting an example of how to deliver low-carbon energy in the UK – and a big part of that is about how we’re working together in the region. Sizewell C is already set to become one of the UK’s biggest contributors to energy security, is climate friendly, and is making a great contribution to opportunity in the region. By working with ABP on construction support, and on building our Direct Air Capture demo plant on ABP land in Lowestoft, for example, we can have an even bigger impact.
“And the benefits to the region’s economy are huge. Sizewell C has easily surpassed £100 million in local contracts in just our first year of construction, and we’re committed to spending £4.4 billion in the East of England alone across the construction period. That’s a truly transformative legacy to leave for this area, as it helps to deliver the energy security we need in the UK.”
The Committee also visited the ScottishPower Renewables Operations and Maintenance base for the East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm, situated at the Port of Lowestoft, showcasing the port’s growing role in supporting renewable energy projects in the region.
Ross Ovens, ScottishPower Renewables’ Managing Director for Offshore, added: “Lowestoft is the home and heart of ScottishPower’s offshore wind operations in the UK and it was great to show the Committee what we’re doing to deliver a clean energy future and how that is spurring investment and supporting jobs and growth across East Anglia. Standing alongside colleagues from ABP and Sizewell gave a really powerful message to the Committee about industry’s collective commitment to the region and driving the energy transition that delivers long and lasting benefits for all.”
The Port of Lowestoft and East Anglia continue to lead the way in delivering low-carbon energy solutions that align with the UK’s energy security goals.