BILLIONS of pounds worth of energy contracts, with the potential to create thousands of jobs, will be up for grabs in the East of England in the coming decade and beyond, delegates heard at a major regional event.

Alan Barlow, chairman of the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR), told the organisation’s annual Summer Conference in Great Yarmouth that there would be a guaranteed �30bn-worth of business in the energy sector within 35 to 40 miles of the town over the next 15 years.

And plans outlined by other key speakers at the event, from sectors including nuclear, bioenergy and electricity transmission, indicated that the total to could go far higher.?

Karl John, business development director for French-based AREVA, said the group intended to set up a wind turbine manufacturing base in the UK.

He offered no clue as to where it would be located, saying that talks were on-going, but added that the East of England would inevitably benefit from jobs created by the operations and maintenance work needed for the giant wind farms already planned off the coast.

Chris Squires, EDF procurement manager, told the audience about its nuclear new build plans in the UK, including Sizewell C, and Julian Leslie, electricity customer manager for National Grid, promised massive investment in transmission infrastructure.

Around 20% of future generation would be in the East of England and the company was investing �1bn in upgrading connections,? he said.