Ed Miliband is to give the National Energy System Operator (NESO) carte blanche to wave through hundreds of new wind, solar and battery plants across rural England, in order to generate 300 GW of electricity by 2035, triple the amount of UK current capacity. Read the...
An interesting FT article today discusses the challenges facing the UK's efforts to transition to clean energy, specifically focusing on the Labour government's ambitious plans. It argues that the goal set by Ed Miliband, the UK energy secretary, to transform...
The Panorama 30 minute programme screened on Monday 3 February takes a view of the issues facing local communities across the UK whose voices have not been heard by successive Governments. From Scotland and Lincolnshire we hear voices sharing similar concerns. In this...
On 13 October, Starmer singled out just one project in his rallying speech to global investors. It was ScottishPower’s EA2, costing £4billion, generating 1GW clean energy and delayed by regulation (4,000 documents ) and two years of judicial reviews. A view...
Offshore4sure has written an open letter 'The faster, more cost-efficient way to Net Zero', to Chris Stark who is heading up the Government's Mission Control 2030 and Fintan Slye CEO of the new NESO (National Energy System Operator). We outline how a meshed offshore...
Great coverage for SEAS today with Fiona Gilmore interviewed by Nick Robinson on BBC RADIO 4's TODAY programme. Fiona spoke about the better 'Offshore Grid' solutions available to help Britain get to Net Zero quicker and cheaper, without unnecessarily destroying...
“This announcement from the Minister for Energy scrapping the OCSS is not necessarily bad news.” SEAS suspected that this award made by the OCSS was a way to halt sensible pilot options for LionLink to pool energy with ScottishPower ( SPR) EA1N and EA2; and Nautilus...
See SEAS Open Letter to the Press and key Organisations reproduced here below: Britain’s Winning Strategy for Energy Infrastructure 2025 to 2050 An open letter calling for imagination, common sense and consideration to local communities as the nation decides on the...
To a packed house of 280 local residents, Bishop Martin chaired the Energy Election Hustings Q&A session with good humour and grace. The four political candidates participating were:Dr Therese Coffey, ConservativeJulian Cusack, GreenJenny Riddell-Carpenter,...
Concerns about a lack of well-thought-through policies and joined-up thinking about National Grid’s Great Grid Upgrade have prompted the Suffolk Preservation Society (SPS) to join with Norfolk and Essex branches of the CPRE (Campaign To Protect Rural England) to...
The debate was called by Matt Warman MP (Conservative, Boston and Skegness) WATCH the excellent speeches by Wera Hobhouse HERE and by Therese Coffey HERE Key Points: There is virtual unanimity amongst all the MPs who spoke that the current upgrade plans need to be...
National Grid are using subsea HVDC cables on multiple projects, making claims this technology is too expensive a nonsense. National Grid has multiple projects in the pipeline that utilise the long-distance transmission of power using HVDC subsea cables and yet...
Therese Coffey has been busy on our behalf. On 29 March, Suffolk Coastal's MP spoke with forthright candour to the Delegated Legislation Committee, which was considering the Government's Strategy and Policy Statement for Energy - WATCH her informative speech HERE...
Good news. On 1 March 2024, Ofgem published a very important report recommending a future transmission network design resembling a meshed offshore grid. It was called: “Initial Project Assessment (IPA) of the Offshore Hybrid Asset (OHA) Pilot Projects" OHA’s are...
SEAS protested against unnecessary National Grid onshore infrastructure outside Suffolk County Council's Endeavour House office on Thursday 21 March ahead of their meeting. The leader of Suffolk County Council said the authority 'recognised the impact' plans to...
Great BBC article on their website and Politics East covered the publication of National Grid ESO's East Anglia Study Results, with SEAS Fiona Gilmore, Therese Coffey and Clive Lewis. There are better alternatives to current plans as studio guests agree and National...
Last week, we were assailed with devastating news regarding LionLink’s plans:LionLink’s Non-Statutory Consultation documents, confirmed proposals for ANOTHER HUGE 26 m HIGH SAXMUNDHAM CONVERTER STATION and LANDFALLS at WALBERSWICK or REYDON/ SOUTHWOLD, all...
See ITV Anglia's extended piece on LionLink's proposed landfall sites and its impact on the Suffolk Coast. National Grid has revealed the preferred landfall sites and cabling routes for the LionLink interconnector between Holland and the UK, with proposed landfall at...
National Grid has revealed the preferred landfall sites and cabling routes for the LionLink interconnector between Holland and the UK, with proposed landfall at Southwold or Walberswick. This makes it more likely that Sea Link an HVDC cable between Suffolk and Kent,...
On 7 February there was a SEAS Meeting with Suffolk County Council, about SCC's unsatisfactory response to the Sealink consultation and the recent National Grid ESO East Anglia Study Roundtable discussions, with Councillor Richard Rout, Phil Watson (Strategic Energy...
Examining how to reform the planning system to support the delivery of renewable energy generation, and what needs to be done to ensure the UK has the infrastructure it needs to deliver grid capacity for the future.
“....why ride roughshod over all the environmental protections in place for this area when there are alternative routes?” David Riches, WALL
Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey told a SEAS campaigners' meeting she has been 'unleashed' to help community groups fighting plans to route electricity cables through the Suffolk countryside.
Plans for a huge electricity cable to come onshore near protected sites were "wholly unacceptable", the council said.
A Government minister Andrew Bowie will be returning to Suffolk next month after a letter signed by 37 councils called for 'greater engagement' on energy projects.
Prime Minister Richi Sunak struggles to justify current plans for onshore wind infrastructure and nuclear.
Meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday, 27 September 2023 - Agenda Documents HERE
Lack of energy plan risks panic-bulldozing - It’s time Government laid out what infrastructure is needed where, or we will rush into destroying our countryside
Winser Report - Independent recommendations from the UK’s Electricity Networks Commissioner, Nick Winser, on how to accelerate the deployment of electricity transmission infrastructure.
Wind farm PAUSE is an Offshore Grid opportunity Vattenfall/Developers can reduce costs via an Integrated Offshore Grid.
Offshore Transmission Network Review: proposals for an enduring regime and multi-purpose interconnectors
We correct National Grid's disingenuous Offshore Grid costings for East Anglia with a joint letter with Pylons to Andrew Bowie
SEAS and many supporters emailed urging a meeting before MPs summer recess
SEAS and many supporters emailed urging a meeting before MPs summer recess
SEAS and many supporters emailed urging a meeting before MPs summer recess
After four years of invitations to successive energy Ministers SEAS finally met face to face to discuss an Offshore Grid
Congratulations to Aldeburgh & Leiston's new East Suffolk Councillors: Tom Daly (Energy & Climate Change ), Katie Graham (Communities. Leisure, Tourism) and Sarah Whitelock. Also to Caroline Topping the new ESC Leader
Signed by 3,821 people, the petition requests a comparative study for East Anglia of offshore transmission network designs, including with landfall at brownfield sites, properly assessing environmental impacts before current energy proposals are taken further.
Essex, Suffolk & Norfolk Community Groups are jointly demanding a review of an offshore grid linking ALL of East Anglia’s windfarms & interconnectors to offshore energy platforms, subsea cabling power to suitable brownfield landing sites.
The Rt Hon Dr Therese Coffey MP writes to the Energy Secretary asking "what reassurance he can give me that any future application will need to demonstrate a thorough and robust site selection assessment so that connections can be brought onshore in areas that will do...
SEAS call on the Council "to write to the Secretary of State and declare that it is no longer 'neutral' about the proposals but does in fact oppose them", SEAS letter to East Suffolk Council, 9 March 2022 SEAS hosted an online hustings for the Aldeburgh and Leiston...
Scottish Power Renewables (SPR) are using “gagging” clauses in their agreements with landowners involved in the planning process for their offshore wind farms, EA1N and EA2. These clauses offer financial incentives to individuals and groups to withdraw objections...
Policy Exchange “Without reform, there is now a significant risk that local backlash against grid connections for offshore wind farm will grow, spreading from East Anglia to North Wales, Humberside, and the east coast of Scotland” This is the conclusion to a report...
"I thank the Prime Minister for the support he has already shown for coming forward with an offshore transmission grid, which he knows will help us to both export our surplus offshore wind to the continent and reduce the infrastructure associated with new wind farm...
On 1 April 2021, 5 days before the 6 month Examination period was due to close, the Planning Inspectorate announced that the Secretary of State had granted a 3-month extension to the Examinations. This meant the Examinations did not close until 6 July 2021. SEAS...