The North East鈥檚 largest business organisation is calling on the Government to make the region a world leader in energy production as part of its levelling up policy.
The North East England Chamber of Commerce has sent a detailed report to the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy that sets out how the region can use new and developing technologies to attract investment to help the 海角视频 meet its future energy needs, in the process creating thousands of new jobs.
The region - whose economy for many years was built on carbon heavy industries - is already benefitting from the switch to greener forms of energy production, with hundreds of jobs linked to the offshore wind sector and hopes that more will follow in areas such as bioenergy, nuclear power and solar.
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In a move that will antagonise some environmental campaigners, the report says that 鈥渃oal still has a part to play as a key feedstock in 海角视频 industry鈥 and calls for 鈥渁 more open debate on mining local resources rather than relying on higher net carbon imported coal鈥.
But it also says that the North East 鈥渕ust be at the centre of the Government鈥檚 ambitions for Clean Growth set out in the Industrial Strategy鈥, and highlights how hydrogen, anaerobic digestion, nuclear, biomass, solar and wind power can also be part of the drive to net zero.
Rachel Anderson, the Chamber鈥檚 assistant director of policy said: 鈥淲e have an unrivalled base on which to build a global energy sector right across our region. However, there is an urgent requirement for the Government to set out a comprehensive and funded plan for replacing aging energy generation capacity.
鈥淲hilst some nuclear stations may be able to extend their life beyond 2024, the 海角视频 is facing a severe energy gap especially as demand from electric vehicles increases. The Government must reach a decision on the future of nuclear energy in the 海角视频 and provide certainty to communities with a power station currently reaching the end of its useful life.鈥
The Chamber says the energy sector has a key role to play in the Government鈥檚 Levelling Up agenda and can provide jobs and growth.
But to realise those ambitions, it says the region need investment in developing skills and support R&D, particularly among SMEs to bring new ideas to market.
Chamber members Northumbrian Water, EDF Energy and the Lynemouth Power Plant all contributed to the report, with examples of their expertise in sustainable energy, including generating power from waste and biomass including treated sewage.
Graham Southall, Northumbrian Water group commercial director said: 鈥淲e are proud to be the first and only water company in the country to use 100% of our sewage sludge to generate renewable energy through our green power stations at Howdon and Bran Sands, and to have England鈥檚 largest hydroelectric plant of its kind at Kielder.
鈥淭hese plants make a substantial contribution to our progress to net zero by 2027 and are examples of the great assets and expertise in the North East.鈥
