North out to play the power game
May 16 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal
HOW the North East can cash in on a big expansion in renewable energy in the pipeline for Europe was explored at a top level meeting in the region yesterday.
The draft European Renewable Energy Directive sets a target of 20% of power from green sources by 2020. The legally-binding goal for Britain has been fixed at 15% but at present renewables account for only around 3% of UK power.
It is expected that the draft directive will be passed as law by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers by the end of the year – signalling major growth in the renewables sector. Yesterday Fiona Hall, North East MEP and Lib Dem energy spokesperson in the European Parliament, chaired a meeting of around 25 representatives from renewable energy bodies and companies in the region.
A key figure at the meeting at the New and Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth was Luxembourg MEP Claude Turmes, who is writing the European Parliament’s report on the draft Renewable Energy Directive.
Ms Hall is also leading negotiations on the directive for the European Liberal and Democrat group. The meeting was a chance for North East players to influence the directive and also underlined the region’s growing reputation in the renewable energy development field.
Ms Hall said: “There are huge opportunities for the North East as a result of this directive, because there is going to be a very big expansion in renewable energy to meet this legally-binding 15% target for Britain.
“It’s growing that potential fast and efficiently which is going to be crucial for developing economic benefits for the North East.”
