Suffolk MP Dr Dan Poulter has put energy experts on the spot about National Grid's plans for a new line of pylons through the region.

He raised the issue at a recent meeting of the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee, as part of its “Flexible Grid” inquiry.

It interviewed Ana Musat (Executive Director, Policy & Engagement, Renewable UK), Tom Quinn (Head of Analysis & Insights, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult), Jonathan Selwyn (Managing Director, Bluefield Renewable Development) and Duncan Clark (Senior Vice President and Head of UK and Ireland,Ørsted).

Dr Poulter took the opportunity to question green energy experts about the pace and cost effectiveness of building a highly interconnected, stable grid. 

The experts said an offshore grid was a simpler way of joining up offshore wind farms, as well as being cheaper and avoiding protracted and costly planning negotiations.

Ana Musat from Renewable UK said: “What is interesting is looking at everything together, how we connect the offshore to onshore and then how we build the onshore infrastructure. It is that holistic picture that we need to consider.”

“We are on the right track. We just need to consider how we implement that as quickly as possible and how we manage that with the seabed leasing and having some clarity on that.

"If we think about where we want to build in the future, we know some areas of the seabed will be open for development…”

Tom Quinn from Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult added: “The benefit of having that offshore grid is that it will likely unlock wind farm sites further north and further east, further from shore, where the wind resource is better.”

Dr Poulter said: “The energy experts have told the Select Committee what we have known locally all along - that an offshore grid would be a cheaper, quicker and more effective way of transmitting the energy supply produced from offshore wind.”