Yorkshire Post Manifesto: Green energy

FOR regional planners currently plotting Yorkshire's emergence from recession, there is one fledgling industry which potentially offers huge long-term growth for the region.

Vast off-shore wind farms and new clean coal power plants where polluting emissions are captured and stored are all being lined up for Yorkshire over the coming years. It could provide tens of thousands of new jobs and a massive economic shot in the arm.

Joanne Pollard, chief executive of CO2Sense Yorkshire, the low-carbon business development programme funded by Yorkshire Forward, said: "Green energy will be a vital part of the way the UK reduces carbon emissions over the next 20 years – and Yorkshire could be the region that makes it happen."

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But while green energy represents an unprecedented opportunity, the fact remains that it will require strong Government support. Ministers will need to provide funding to make sure manufacturing projects take place here in this region.

The UK aims to cut carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050

Yorkshire's proposed carbon storage schemes could cut the UK's CO2 emissions by 10 per cent

Constructing the pipelines could bring 55,000 new jobs and 2bn in investment.

Making turbines for North Sea wind farms could bring 10,000 jobs.

CASE STUDY: GREENER FUTURE

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'King Coal' Richard Budge's latest project with his Powerfuel firm will see the world's largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) power plant built near Doncaster by 2015.

More than 90 per cent of the CO2 emissions produced by the massive 900MW coal-fired plant will be captured and pumped out into the North Sea, where they will be safely buried in depleted oil and gas fields.

"We've been working on this for a long time," Mr Budge said. "We've spent 200,000 man hours and tens of millions of pounds just to get to this stage."

Experts at the EU agree, having awarded the project a 180m Euro grant at the end of last year. But the Hatfield scheme will need support from the next Government, however, if the project is to be a success.