NaREC spreads its roots to bolster green energy in region

Mar 19 2008 By The Journal

OVER the next six months NaREC will be considerably expanding its capabilities to further support and encourage growth and development in the North East’s energy industry. The expansion plans will most directly and immediately be felt by SME energy companies based in the North East, who will benefit from the increasing variety of facilities and engineering support that NaREC can offer to technology developers and manufacturers within the North East.

NaREC will also be able to boost its precedence as an internationally recognised R&D centre of excellence, attracting further interest and investment into the region from major international energy organisations who may be seeking to establish themselves in the UK.

Expansion plans will include a new range of renewable grid connection testing, required by manufacturers of new renewable energy systems, new fuel cell research and development activities to address the need for fuel cell technology in a wider variety of applications, and full testing of small wind turbines for the urban environment.

NaREC chief executive Andrew Mill said: “The energy industry is changing fast, as the UK Government and other authorities elsewhere move to tackle climate change and gain a greater handle on sustainability.

“New policies are coming through all the time to influence utilities, energy providers, manufacturers and domestic users, as more penalties are put in place for poor energy management and more incentives offered to encourage change.

“We want the North East’s businesses to be in the best position to benefit from this change, not only by adapting to sustainability but creating new business opportunities in this changing sector.”

NaREC will now be better placed to work alongside the academic community in the region to secure funding from central UK and European research and development initiatives.