New energy drives activity

Jun 16 2009 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

BREAKTHROUGHS in new energy could move the North East to become the centre of activity in the UK - both economically and geographically.

Marion Bernard, chief executive of North Star Equity Investors, said a revolution in renewables would divert investor attention from the South and encourage entrepreneurship. “I’m genuinely excited about the industrial revolution,” she said. “This campaign brings the different bodies across the region together to debate and set out our vision for the new industries.

“The wind sector is very strong in the North-east and we are working alongside NaREC to build on this. Low carbon electric vehicles and new materials are also growth areas and tidal technology also has great potential in the North-east.

“Combining our traditional skills, including project management and engineering, with the new technologies coming through will be the way forward.”

Ian Waller, energy consultant with Stockton’s Five Bar Gate, warned that in the area of biofuels in particular, which has already brought millions of pounds of investment to Teesside, there was a danger of leapfrogging ahead of current technology and not making the most of what we had.

“First generation biofuels aren’t properly established yet,” he said. “But the people most likely to invest in second generation biofuels are the ones who will have established themselves, such as Biofuels Corporation and Ensus, who will have acquired the skills and know the market.

“We need to get on with it and create the impetus needed without getting too tied up in bureaucracy.

“We need to build on the strengths we’ve already got here in the North-east, such as NaREC and the huge credibility that exists for North-east biofuels on the international stage.”