North East set to be “leader in energy and clean growth” in UK's green industrial revolution

The North East is set to lead the UK’s green industrial revolution as thousands of new jobs are set to be created in sustainable industries across the region.

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has shared how businesses across the region are playing their part in the move towards clean energy and technologies.

Lucy Winskell, chair of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), commented: “The North East energy sector is already working together to deliver on national energy strategy while driving economic growth.

“North East partners are collaborating nationally and internationally and investing £200m over the next 10 years to deliver on energy opportunities.”

The North East’s growing offshore wind cluster is home to businesses that serve global markets, with Equinor and SSE Renewables planning to create a new base at the Port of Tyne.

The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, a national research centre for renewable offshore energy, also has a base in the region, at Blyth in Northumberland. In addition, electric vehicle technology is being developed in the North East.

James Ritchie, chair of Energi Coast, the North East’s offshore wind cluster, commented: “We know that there is the potential for the North East to support 9,000 jobs in the offshore wind sector by 2025, and we have the ambition and expertise to further grow our reputation as a world-leading cluster and international centre for innovation in offshore energy.”

Paul Butler, chief executive of the North East Automotive Alliance, said: “Electrification is a huge opportunity to address decarbonisation and the climate emergency, and no other region in the UK can lay claim to the kind of capabilities we have in the North East when it comes to electric vehicle technologies.”

National research and demonstration of hydrogen as a zero-carbon fuel is taking place in the region, with residents of Winlaton in Gateshead set to become the first users of a public UK gas network to receive blended hydrogen for heating and cooking through the HyDeploy project.

Lucy added: “The announcement of the Green Industrial Revolution plan by the government further solidifies our ambitions and underlines our position as a leader in energy and clean growth, with pioneering work already underway across the plan.

“We’re a region which is working collaboratively, not just within the North East, but with partners nationally and internationally, and we’re ready to use our strengths to help government and industry deliver the new plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.”

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