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£10m investment for region?s energy technology development

The government’s new plan for a low carbon UK was released this week, announcing a £10m investment in technology development for the region.

The investment will be used to further develop wave and tidal test facilities in Blyth, with the report saying that by 2020 more than 1.2m people will be in green jobs.

On launching the plan, Ed Milliband, Secretary of State of Energy, said: “40% of our energy will be low carbon under the plans I’ve announced today.”

He added: “It’s a route map for Britain as to how we move forward but I think there are big benefits for us, as well as avoiding the disaster of climate change we want to make it as easy as possible for people to go green in their homes.”

New ‘clean energy cash-back’ schemes are to be put in place, meaning people and businesses can be paid for using low carbon sources of energy, with a household able to receive more than £800 for well placed solar panels, as well as saving £140 on bills.

Steve Caseley, Director of distributors energy at the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC), said: “One of the biggest stumbling blocks with renewable technologies on the domestic side or the small commercial scale has been the volume, there just isn’t enough.

“By the government facilitating this, that’s going to increase the volume, therefore the price is going to be driven down. You’re going to end up with more installers who can fit the system, and so it’s going to be a bit more competitive and drive the installation costs down.

“I think the whole idea of this is to kick start the market, and this is exactly what is needed to get the volumes up, to get the people trained, and to drive down the prices.”

He added: “Everybody’s going to benefit. The local authorities are going to reduce their carbon footprint, the occupants are going to get lower fuel bills, and there’s going to be job creation for the region – which is fantastic.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .