The UK has set a clear ambition for our country to be a global leader in clean energy. The Government has set a commitment to reach Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and an ambition to connect 50 GW of offshore wind by 2030 – enough energy to power every home in the country.

With new offshore wind generation, a new nuclear power station at Sizewell C and greater interconnection with countries across the North Sea being proposed, there will be a huge increase the amount of renewable and low carbon electricity generation connecting along the East coast.

While our existing high voltage electricity network in East Anglia has been sufficient until today, it doesn’t have the capability needed to reliably and securely transport all the energy that will be connected by 2030 while working to the required standards.

We are investing significantly to upgrade the existing network, but that still won’t deliver the capability that is needed by the end of the decade. We need to reinforce the region’s electricity network to address this.

We need to build a network reinforcement between Bramford Substation in Suffolk and Twinstead Tee in Essex. Our proposals include constructing up to 18 km of overhead line and around 11 km of underground cable (through the Dedham Vale AONB and in the Stour Valley). Strengthening the network here is vital to deliver cleaner, greener electricity efficiently, reliably, and safely and to support the UK’s move to Net Zero.