Delegates from across the world will today (Wed 7 Feb) share in the launch of the first Yorkshire and Humber Energy Strategy at a major conference where former US Vice President Al Gore will make the keynote address.
Yorkshire Forward Chief Exective Tom Riordan will use the platform at a global climate change conference being held in Sheffield to unveil the strategy, which addresses the energy challenge facing Yorkshire and Humber to have secure, affordable and low carbon supplies of energy.
The Strategy sets out what the region needs to do on energy generation and supply to achieve regional energy targets and maintain affordable energy supplies.
It was drawn up by the Regional Energy Forum following extensive consultation with partners and stakeholders across the region led by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly and Yorkshire Forward.
The main purpose is to identify and present the rationale for the priorities for investment so that it can be used to influence through the Regional Economic Strategy and secure additional investment in the region.
Initially, the main focus of efforts are to secure £30 million from DTI to pump-prime investment of over £100 million to install a super-critical, carbon-capture-ready boiler at one of the region’s coal-fired power stations.
The Government’s Energy White Paper sets out stringent national targets for reductions in emissions with an overall aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60% of their 1990 levels by 2050. It also details the key role regional agencies have in producing strategies and action plans to support this aim.
The strategy will be launched as part of Mr Riordan’s speech at the ‘Cooling The Planet’ conference, which will, for the first time, bring leaders of regional, national and international business together to address the major climate change challenges that threaten economic sustainability.
Up to 1,000 delegates from around the world are expected at the groundbreaking event which is being organized and hosted by the Sheffield office of global law firm DLA Piper.
The conference is also being sponsored by the University of Sheffield, Yorkshire Forward and Renaissance South Yorkshire and has the backing of Sheffield City Council.
It is the focal point of a week-long programme of events in Sheffield promoting city environmental initiatives, emission reduction projects, renewable energy ventures and carbon trading platforms.
What they say about the Energy Strategy
Peter Box, Chair, Yorkshire and Humber Assemby: “Energy is one of the key challenges facing the region and this innovative strategy will enable key regional organisations to take better-informed decisions to make the most of our resources, natural and otherwise.
David Bowe, Chair of the Regional Energy Forum: “This has proved a challenging piece of work for the region to address. I’m confident it will enable us to put in place a sound environmental basis for long term planning and economic success.’’
Tom Riordan, Chief Executive, Yorkshire Forward: “The region is a net exporter of energy to the rest of the UK, and has a key role to play in energy generation. Yorkshire Forward will continue to work with partners to deliver the aims of the Regional Energy Strategy by establishing an extensive renewables and bio-energy infrastructure, promoting the widespread use of combined heat and power and carbon capture technologies, and stimulating the development of cleaner coal power stations.”
For more details contact Iain Lovell, Head of Scrutiny and Communications, Yorkshire and Humber Assembly, 01924 331583, e-mail iain.lovell@yhassembly.gov.uk
Source: Yorkshire and Humber Assembly |
