HomeSector ReportsNorth East VisionSpring 2008

Innovative breathing device to boost cystic fibrosis treatment

A SUNDERLAND firm is set to make the lives of people with cystic fibrosis easier with the development of a new breathing apparatus device. Read

Football clubs help kick off the search for skills award winners

THE North East’s football clubs have kicked off the search to find premier league learners and employers in the North East after launching the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East’s Celebration of Learning and Skills (CoLaS) Awards. Read

Renewable energy can generate £2bn growth

THE emerging energy and environment sector is closely entwined with regional economic growth. New and renewable energy alone has the potential to generate an estimated £2bn of new growth for the regional economy through the development of a new generation of hi-tech companies. Read

Chemists committed to saving the planet

WITH climate change clawing its way to the top of every chemical producer’s agenda, the sector is ensuring it makes a positive contribution to saving the planet. This involves reducing energy use, since energy efficiency and improving water quality are paramount to chemical firms. Read

Lean, green manufacturing

ONE NORTHEAST has seized the national lead in helping the region’s businesses cope with rising energy costs and reducing their carbon footprints. The regional development agency’s pioneering North East Productivity Alliance (NEPA) has introduced the concept of lean green manufacturing as part of its comprehensive business support package. Read

A renewables ready region for the North East?

A THRIVING renewable energy connection business has won a contract that could help develop the UK’s first ‘renewables ready region’. Econnect, based in Hexham, Northumberland, has been awarded the contract by regional development agency One NorthEast. Read

BT is pulling out all the stops to make a difference to the planet

CLIMATE change is one of the biggest challenges we face, but we can make a difference. BT firmly believes that citizens, organisations and governments across the planet must take steps to reduce the size of their carbon footprint. Read

Community power engine tests under way

NORTH East England has been chosen as the UK base for the development of state-of-the-art biodiesel systems – which could provide low-cost, clean energy for community power schemes. Read

Community power engine tests under way

NORTH East England has been chosen as the UK base for the development of state-of-the-art biodiesel systems – which could provide low-cost, clean energy for community power schemes. Read

Preparing to tap into 'clean power' from the Earth’s core

WORK by scientists from Newcastle University has shown sources of geothermal energy, or “hot rocks”, in the geology of Newcastle and the North-East could provide sustainable energy options. Geothermal energy takes heat direct from the Earth. Read

Taking action on climate change

CLIMATE change is the greatest environmental challenge facing the world today. Rising global temperatures will bring changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Read

Leading-edge facilities plus technical support for renewable energy sector

APRIL 2008 will see the opening of the Energy and Materials Technology Centre, the North-East’s new technical resource for the renewable energy sector. Read

Wood heat - helping your business save costs and the planet

IS your business reeling under ever-rising heating bills? Are you conscious of how your energy consumption is affecting climate change, and how businesses can play an active role in affecting the future of the planet? Read

Forests and tackling climate change: Kielder Forest - a case study

KIELDER Forest Park is the largest forest in England and one of the largest planted forests in Europe. Read

Durham University leads UK research project into cheaper solar energy

ANATIONAL team of scientists led by experts at Durham University are embarking on one of the UK’s largest ever research projects into photovoltaic (PV) solar energy. The £6.3m PV-21 programme will focus on making thin-film light-absorbing cells for solar panels from sustainable and affordable materials. Read

Simple and sustainable way to restore green and pleasant land

A DREAM is turning to reality for a team of scientists who believe that trees could be the answer to one of industrial Teesside’s most difficult, and enduring, problems. Read

Actively greening the network

THE days are rapidly passing when an electricity network operator simply had to deliver power from a small number of large power stations through a network of wires to a large number of electricity users. Read

Parc makes good use of all the rubbish in your wheelie bin

COUNTY Durham-based Premier Waste Management is driving development of new technologies to recycle and recover waste. Read

Climate change worries bring bonanza for engineering giant

A BOOMING green economy is leading to busy times for engineering giant Aker Kvaerner. Stockton-based Aker Kvaerner Engineering Services is seeing a growth in energy generation projects as climate change becomes increasingly important to industry. Read

TADEA spreads environmental message throughout the region

TADEA is spreading the environmental message right across the region. The private, not-for-profit company was set up in 2002 by Stockton Council and NEA (National Energy Action) with the support of local authorities in the Durham and Tees Valley sub-regions. Read