Initiative reinforces region’s green credentials

A REGIONAL initiative to slash carbon emissions has awarded £435,000 worth of grants since it was established last year.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency’s (NWDA) Carbon Challenge Fund (CCF) has awarded the money to three ‘environmentally-focused’ businesses.

Water Power Enterprises, Diodes Zetex Semiconductors and United Utilities are the first three successful beneficiaries of the CCF.

Water Power Enterprises has been granted £100,000 towards the cost of establishing a community-owned micro-hydro scheme in Stockport named Otterspool Community Hydro.

CCF has invested £135,000 of match funding to enable Diodes Zetex Semiconductors to design, manufacture and install a state-of-the-art energy efficient clean-room air-conditioning project that will also eliminate the use of ozone depleting gases at its manufacturing plant in Oldham.

United Utilities has been awarded £200,000 towards a project which aims to cut its carbon emissions by 75 per cent at its wastewater treatment plant in Ellesmere Port.

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said: “England’s North West has long been a pioneer for innovation, forward thinking attitudes and the willingness to develop and progress.

“Projects selected for the Carbon Challenge Fund represent a key part of the Agency’s commitment to creating a low carbon economy in England’s North West – improving efficiency, reducing costs and safeguarding jobs.”

The NWDA has made up to £2 million available to CCF, which is a key part of the Northwest Climate Change Action Plan.

The Action Plan sets out the region’s mission to become the leader on climate change by 2020, and is being delivered by the Northwest Climate Change Partnership.