Jobs and Economic Growth
A key objective of Renewables East is to capture within the region the benefits that growth in the renewable energy industry will bring. These benefits include economic growth and with this job creation.
- Renewables East is working to identify the areas where research and development outputs need assistance to achieve commercial application.
- Through partnerships and networks RE is finding the best applications of regional funding to stimulate renewable energy business development.
- RE is working with the industry to develop the skills base needed to satisfy the supply chain needs of the wind energy and biomass sectors - key areas set to see massive growth during the next few years.
By working with partners and industry, RE is finding ways to assist the removal of planning barriers to renewable energy development at strategic and local level. This supports the stimulation of the uptake of renewable energy products and services and encourages market opportunities for renewable energy industry.
Offshore Renewables
The capital investment needed for consented projects in the offshore industry already amounts to £10 billion. Once constructed, there will be an estimated Operation and Maintenance budget of £150-£200 million per annum. Both of these figures show that there are significant opportunities for the businesses in the region, both those already engaged in the industry and new entrants.
The SNS (Southern North Sea) currently accounts for 78% of the world's offshore wind capacity. This ideally places the East of England to not only service the industry but provides opportunities to grow experience and expertise for a world wide market.
Renewables East is engaged in stimulating design, manufacturing, assembly, installation and maintenance, and other supply chain opportunities associated with offshore wind power.
Bio Energy
RE is supporting the commercial development of biomass technologies, and systems for heating and transport fuels.
In September 2007 British Sugar opened a £20M bioethanol plant in Wissington, Norfolk, capable of producing 55,000 tonnes of bioethanol annually. RE is helping to develop a market for biofuels, they were key partners in bringing about the first UK availability of E85 ‘Harvest Bioethanol' a fuel that reduces overall carbon emissions by 50%, to Morrison's forecourts in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation states that by 2010, 5% of all fuel sales must be biofuel, (equivalent to removing one million cars from the roads). The EU has proposed a new target of 10% biofuels by 2020. This is an area of renewables that will continue to grow.
Renewables East has just successfully completed the £680K, three year Bioregen project funded by EEDA under the BREW programme. The focus was on recovering energy from waste wood and organic residues by providing free technical, regulatory, financial and planning support to ‘kickstart' projects. Anaerobic digestion is a proven technology with a recommendation by the Government for electricity from AD plants to receive double ROC's in 2009, this is a key area for future growth.
On Site Renewables
On site renewables is a fast evolving industry sector with many changes. As such this report should be read as a snapshot and will continually evolve with the predicted growth of this sector. Countryside Properties estimates that this industry will be £5bm by 2015, and a recent RE study estimates that 5000 job years are required to deliver this to the region.