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ClimateNE & Climate Change Schools Project support the move to a low-carbon, resilient economy and help businesses avoid risk and realise commercial opportunities. Posts by Jen Atkinson, Krista McKinzey and Harriet Thew » A delegation from the North East is today making a crucial presentation on the region's bid to house the Energy Technologies Institute - a new Government research centre being set up for renewable energy development.
The North East Chamber of Commerce has thrown its backing behind the bid. Sustainable energy will undoubtedly be a huge business opportunity for years to come, so having such a pretigious centre in the region can only be good news for the region's economy.
It has already estimated the economic benefit of housing the centre in the region could be as much as ã1bn.
That's aside from the knock-on benefits of attracting skilled researchers to the region and enhancing the North east's reputation for world class R&D.
The North East is hardly inexperienced in providing for the UK's energy needs, given its synonymity with the coal industry in decades past.
Now, the truly innovative research into the next generation of energy production that is going on in this region deserves similar attention. The ETI would ensure that happens in a major way.
The North East bid has been placed in the final shortlist of three, so a successful day today could be the vital final push that nudges us over the finishing line.
NECC therefore wishes Prof Paul Younger from Newcastle University and his colleagues the very best of luck.
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