Boosting UK Energy Security
Clean energy champion SSE is investing billions in homegrown electricity
Global events have exposed millions of families and businesses to the worst of a volatile gas market. The crisis, which has been caused by spiralling costs of imported gas, has brought into sharp focus the need for government and industry to work together to bolster UK energy security and stop this being repeated in the future. With an abundance of renewable energy resources, world-leading engineering skills and invaluable experience and technological know-how – the UK should now accelerate progress towards becoming the world’s clean energy powerhouse. Alistair Phillips-Davies, Chief Executive of SSE, one of the UK’s largest electricity infrastructure companies said: This year alone SSE predicts it is expected to invest £2.5bn in communities from Shetland to the Isle of Wight. This includes building more offshore wind than anyone on the planet – including Dogger Bank, off the east coast of Yorkshire - which is helping to transform the North East of England into a clean energy powerhouse. When complete it will provide enough clean energy to power six million homes. In the North Sea, Seagreen offshore wind farm achieved first power in August and will eventually be able to power up to 1.6m homes. Mr Phillips-Davies added:
“While government has provided immediate support, the role of companies, like us, is to help provide longerterm solutions.
“We have a programme of shovel-ready projects that could see us invest £24bn this decade in communities across the UK, creating thousands of good jobs.”
“Our engineers continue to progress ground-breaking projects to support energy security for decades to come. We’re developing hydrogen and carbon capture storage projects and will shortly open Europe’s cleanest and most-efficient gas-fired power station in the heart of the Humber industrial cluster in North Lincolnshire.
“Whilst our transmission business is currently developing and constructing a range of projects including the electricity cable which will connect Shetland to the UK mainland for the first time in history and the Eastern Link “superhighway”, which will run 270 miles under the North Sea transporting renewable energy to millions across the UK.”
SSE estimates its projects will deliver 1,000 direct jobs a year to 2025 across the UK and through its supply chain is already supporting more than 40,000 roles across the country. At Dogger Bank, the company believes more than 1,250 UK jobs have been created or supported in relation to the construction and operation of the wind farm, mainly on Teeside, the Humber and Yorkshire. The foundations were designed by UK designers, whilst steel for the project has been manufactured by Tata Steel in Wales and processed in Corby and Hartlepool. Mr Phillips-Davies said:
“This country has enormous potential to become energy independent by fully developing our world-class renewable resources, upgrading our electricity infrastructure, and creating innovative new technologies that will boost UK energy security and help ensure we are never in this position again.
“With a supportive policy environment we can reduce bills, improve energy security and deliver a cleaner greener future.”