North East sets out its stall for renewables businesses
Peta Hodge
11th March 2009
Regional development agency One NorthEast is working hard to attract renewable energy and other low carbon energy businesses to the North East of England, claiming that the region is ideally placed to take advantage of “lucrative business opportunities” created by recent Government policies.
In particular, One NorthEast claims on its website that the region is responding to Government targets for 20 per cent of the UK’s energy to come from renewable sources by 2020 by “fast establishing a reputation as a world partner for companies looking to expand their sustainable energy operations”.
The North East has certain natural advantages in this respect: last December the region was identified by the British Wind Energy Association as an ideal site for a UK wind industry hub, for example.
But it has enhanced its natural assets by developing an infrastructure to offer investors access to what One NorthEast claims to be “the very best facilities and support networks”.
These include the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) in Blyth, which has helped facilitate the expansion of some of the world’s leading low emission technology suppliers. The US company Clipper Windpower, for example, has located its European R&D facility in the region and is working with NaREC to develop the world’s largest offshore wind turbine.
The region also boasts the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) – an R&D facility for the advanced manufacturing and chemicals sector – which has done pioneering work in creating low carbon energy from hydrogen fuel cells and recently developed the world’s first hydrogen-powered lighthouse.
One NorthEast says the CPI offers companies in the new and renewable energy market access to world class testing facilities and technical expertise, supporting innovation and commercialisation in this area.
The agency is offering to help new and renewable energy businesses “capitalise on the region’s growth potential” by identifying investment opportunities; offering access to research collaborations and the regional support network; finding suitable premises; and providing access to a skilled workforce.