MORE than 100 delegates from businesses across the East of England were in Lowestoft today for a seminar exploring the new opportunities in offshore renewable energy.

MORE than 100 delegates from businesses across the East of England were in Lowestoft today for a seminar exploring the new opportunities in offshore renewable energy.

The event, held at the Orbis Centre, was organised by Waveney MP Bob Blizzard in Partnership with Renewables East.

Mr Blizzard welcomed the delegates and said there was a 'guaranteed need' for renewable energy in the future and that offshore energy had an important role to play.

'Here in Lowestoft we have embraced renewable energy and the town is ideally place to become the offshore centre for the country,' he said.

The MP said the seminar gave businesses from across the eastern region the opportunity to hear directly about the huge potential that offshore wind and wave present for business and jobs in our area.'

James Beal, managing director of Renewables East, said the renewable energy sector was receiving tremendous support from the European Union, East of England Development Association, Suffolk County Council, Waveney District Council and Waveney MP Bob Blizzard.

'In the east of England we currently produce 2.2pc of our energy from renewable sources and I am confident we will reach our target of producing 20pc by 2020.

'In reaching that target we will be creating 100,000 jobs so you can see the enormous potential in the offshore renewable sector,' he said.