Investors and developers from four continents are in Newcastle today to see firsthand the multi-billion-pound green energy opportunities North East England is unlocking.
On a windy day the region could soon generate up to half of the UK’s energy needs from offshore sources, creating and sustaining 50,000 jobs in the region.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness today brought together 270 delegates from across the world at a green energy and innovation summit delivered in partnership with Lloyds Banking Group and the Office for Investment (OfI).
The summit comes as Lloyds Banking Group this week announced over £1bn of new finance can be available to businesses across the North East in 2026, helping firms of all sizes to invest, scale and compete as the region positions itself at the forefront of the UK's clean energy transition. And, following the government’s AR7 announcement yesterday of its biggest ever offshore wind auction, the North East sits in prime position to take advantage of the new opportunities released to service major new farms at Dogger South and Berwick Bank from ports at Blyth, on the Tyne and on the Wear.
Delegates at the event heard that the North East boasts:
· Marine access to 80% of the UK’s offshore wind farms in 24 hours or less.
· A fully integrated supply chain spanning everything from turbine blades to subsea engineering and innovation.
· More than 400 metres of deepwater quayside across the Tyne, Blyth, and Sunderland ports.
· More than 200 hectares of quay-linked development land ready for investment.
· A £15m investment programme of investment by Mayor Kim in dedicated training centres for green energy skills at Wallsend and Blyth.
In 2024, The Crown Estate signalled in its Future of Offshore Wind publication that up to 16GW of offshore wind opportunity could be leased off the North East coast by 2030 and installed up to 2040.
This represents a huge opportunity for regional companies working in both the on and offshore energy supply chains which Mayor Kim and The Crown Estate today pledged to work together to develop.
Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, said: “This is a once in a generation opportunity and one we need to seize to help shape a brighter, sustainable future for our region. The North East can lead the UK’s green energy transition - not only by powering the nation,
but by creating thousands of jobs and securing long-term investment for our communities. We have, the assets, the skills, the infrastructure and, through our partnerships with Lloyds Banking Group and the OfI, The Crown Estate and our North East Ports, together we can turn this vision into reality.”
Emily Cox MBE, Lloyds Banking Group Ambassador for the North East, said: “Lloyds Banking Group is proud to make a £1 billion commitment to local businesses to accelerate growth across the North East. The North East has the capacity to deliver clean energy projects at scale – and we’re proud to back businesses big and small, from transformational developments at Newcastle Airport, the Port of Tyne and Dogger Bank, to local businesses like Holystone Civils that form the backbone of the region’s unique supply chain.”
The summit was set up after Mayor Kim last year agreed a joint initiative with Lloyds Banking Group and the Office for Investment to unlock private sector funding and directly support the region’s green energy sector, with long-term objectives to create jobs and drive economic growth.
It heard from Lloyds Banking Group, The Crown Estate, the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, the National Wealth Fund, GB Energy, Siemens Energy, and ORE Catapult, highlighting how the North East is already driving major national and global projects, including Dogger Bank and Sofia offshore wind farms.
Delegates received detailed briefings on flagship development sites, including Tyne Clean Energy Park, Energy Central in Blyth, Port of Sunderland and IAMSS, as well as the North East Investment Zone sites.
Innovators such as GeoPura, Power Roll, and Low Carbon Materials showcased how the region is already producing world leading technology with global market potential.
By bringing this group together at the summit, Mayor Kim aims to show that with unmatched natural assets, proven expertise, a commitment to invest in skills and a clear path to scale, the North East stands ready to take on a pivotal role in powering the UK’s green energy future – delivering growth, jobs and investment on a transformational scale.
Investors and developers seeking further information, data, or visit arrangements are encouraged to contact: Invest North East England via inwardinvestment@northeast-ca.gov.uk or visit: www.investnortheastengland.co.uk