Eleven green projects across the North West are to receive a huge funding boost as part of a £15m investment into the region's environmental schemes.
Electricity North West is bringing forward the cash as part of the 海角视频's efforts to drive a green recovery from the pandemic.
The company, which is responsible for operating the electricity network across the North West, has identified 11 projects that will help the region hit its net zero carbon targets.
It is now calling on people who live and work in the region to help it prioritise the schemes - as well as suggest others for consideration.
The full list of projects shortlisted is as follows:
- Strategic reinforcement of the network in the North Carlisle area
- Strategic reinforcement of the network in the Lancaster/Forton area
- Strategic reinforcement of the network in the Heywood/Birch area
- Pre-Sense low-voltage network monitoring programme
- Enablement works to support electric heating in Greater Manchester
- Network reinforcements for electric vehicle charging hubs and on-street parking across the north west
- Strategic reinforcement in the Carlisle/Morton area
- Monitoring of high density low-carbon technologies in the Godley Green Garden Village area, Greater Manchester
- Strategic reinforcements around the Mayfield regeneration project in central Manchester
- Strategic reinforcements around the regeneration of the Blackfriars area of central Manchester
- Strategic reinforcements around the Southern Gateway area of central Manchester
The public consultation is part of a national exercise coordinated by energy regulator Ofgem to make sure communities across the 海角视频 are involved in deciding where to focus immediate investment to kick-start the green recovery.
This £15m investment is also hoped to support the Government's 10-point plan to make the 海角视频 net zero carbon by 2050.
The projects identified will all support the transition to lower carbon technologies across the region.
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Electricity North West is also planning to reinforce the network in North Carlisle, Cumbria, Forton in Lancashire, and Heywood, near Oldham, to pave the way for more electric vehicle charging points at Todhills, Lancaster and Birch motorway service stations respectively.
Paul Bircham, regulation director, said: “The 海角视频 is at a crossroads and whether it hits its decarbonisation targets depends to a great degree on the decisions made right now.
“We have the opportunity to make the environment the focus of our economic recovery from Covid-19, which is exactly what we’re doing here.
“By bringing forward some of these projects, we hope to help lead the north west towards net zero by increasing the capacity of our network and making it easier for people and businesses to adopt the types of new technologies that will be at the heart of our shift away from fossil fuels to a greener economy.”
Along with other network operators across the 海角视频, Electricity North West has launched a six-week call for evidence to identify the best shovel-ready projects to support the 海角视频's efforts for a net zero carbon emissions economy.
Depending on the public feedback, it will then bring forward around £15m to fast-track those projects identified as providing the most efficient support to the transition to a net zero carbon economy.
Green entrepreneur's dream come true
Elsewhere, a £14m investment will see a North West green entrepreneur's dream of building a waste-to-energy plant in Cheshire come true.
Don’t miss
Mark Schofield's firm Trinity Organics has won backing from Dutch green energy investment company Perpetual Next through its subsidiary Primco.
Work is now underway to build the anaerobic digestion facility on a three-acre brownfield site in Ellesmere Port.
The facility, which is expected to be up and running by the summer, will operate around the clock to digest 36,000 tonnes of organic waste each year and convert it into green gas to supply the National Grid.
A team at Taylors Solicitors led by corporate partner Matthew Catterall advised Trinity Organics on the deal.
Mr Schofield, whose firm is based in Warrington, said: “Having spent a number of years working to deliver this project, I am delighted to have completed this transaction with Primco that will allow my vision to become reality.
“I am excited to work with Primco to deliver not just this project but also other renewable energy schemes.
“Matthew and his team at Taylors have provided sound commercial advice to bring the deal to a successful conclusion, and I am extremely grateful for their support and advice.”
The plant will produce enough biomethane to provide 41.5m kilowatt hours of gas a year, which is sufficient to power 3,500 average-sized four-bedroom detached houses.
Using a novel implementation of technologies, the production technique that will be deployed at the plant will prevent the harmful release into the atmosphere of methane, one of the most potent greenhouse gases.
That in turn will contribute to the 海角视频’s drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Climate Agreement.
Perpetual Next is an investment firm with 500m euros under management. Its subsidiary Primco invests in, builds and operates waste-to-energy conversion plants in northern Europe and is focusing on the development of further anaerobic digestion projects in the 海角视频.
Mr Caterall said: “We are delighted to have advised Trinity Organics and Mark Schofield on the successful investment by Primco, which will bring Mark’s vision to fruition.
“We hope this is the start of a productive partnership, and that Mark and Primco can deliver additional operations throughout the 海角视频 to support the country’s growing green energy market.”
He added: “This deal demonstrates that, despite Brexit and much uncertainty in the market, the 海角视频 remains very attractive for international investment, including from the EU and especially in the green energy sector, in which we are seeing a significant increase in activity and requests from clients to advise upon.”
Rene Buwalda, chief executive of Primco, said: “We are delighted to have completed our investment into Trinity Organics, which fits perfectly with our strategy and creates the opportunity to step into the 海角视频 market. We are very excited to see what Mark and his team can deliver in this project and beyond.
“We are also thankful to Matthew and his team at Taylors for delivering this project.”