LOWESTOFT'S £9.4 million Orbis Energy Centre was officially opened today by the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Lord Hunt.The building, close to Ness Point, will put Lowestoft and north Suffolk at the hub of this country's and Europe's renewable energy industry.

LOWESTOFT'S £9.4 million Orbis Energy Centre was officially opened today by the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Lord Hunt.

The building, close to Ness Point, will put Lowestoft and north Suffolk at the hub of this country's and Europe's renewable energy industry.

Built over five storeys it will be a flagship building for renewable wind, wave and tidal power bringing together engineering companies, suppliers, service providers and private investors to help generate work, projects and contracts.

Lord Hunt said he was delighted to open such an important building that will help this country meet its targets of using energy from renewable sources.

“This is a magnificent building that is not only important to Lowestoft and the surrounding area but is vital to our country.

“We all have a duty to our children and children's children to tackle the impact of climate change and this building and the renewable energy industry is playing an important role so that we not only meet but improve on environmental targets,” he said.

The Orbis Centre is owned by Suffolk County Council and managed by business support specialists NWES.

The project also received funding from the East of England Development Agency, the European Union and Waveney District Council.

It is projected that more than £10 billion will be spent over the next ten years on developing offshore energy off our coastline.