Eco campaigner Dale Vince – North West can be clean energy superpower

The North West (NW) has the opportunity to reach net zero and become a clean energy superpower.

A report published by the NW Green Energy Taskforce set up by Metro Mayors Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham claims the region as a whole has enough renewable energy potential to meet its future energy demands twice over. 

It goes on to urge businesses to embrace the investment opportunity and create a sustainable blueprint that can be replicated across the UK, yielding lower bills, green economic growth, energy security and money for public services. 

According to the report, the retail value of this energy would be £50bn per annum at today’s energy prices. However, it assumes that through a public ownership model of these resources, would divert profits for public services and communities. 

Released at the weekend’s Sustainability Show in Manchester, the report estimates a combination of wind, solar, tidal and green gas could produce a potential energy supply of 92TWh per year, which is more than double the forecasted demand of 46TWh per year. 

As well as assessing the renewable energy potential of the region, the report includes research from Climate Outreach on how to engage the local community behind Net Zero, as well as research from Co-operatives UK on models of ownership.

The NW Green Energy Taskforce was set up by Dale Vince and Metro Mayors Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram at the Greater Manchester Green Summit in 2022. Its aim was to establish whether the NW has enough renewable energy potential to power itself and what that means for the region. The Taskforce was comprised of Dale Vince’s Green Britain Foundation, Climate Outreach and Co-operatives UK. 

Vince, who was also in the region last week for BBC’s Question Time from Fleetwood, said: “The North West can go beyond Net Zero and become a clean energy superpower. By doing this, it will provide a blueprint for the rest of the UK to follow. 

“The North West Net Zero Youth Network said it best when they told us that if “you build, they will come”. It shouldn’t need our kids to tell us we need to act, but they’re right. We need to build. We need to build the infrastructure and we need to build a movement to bring people with us.” 

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: “The Green Energy Taskforce report highlights the scale and scope of the renewable energy opportunity in the region and proposes ways that new energy assets can be cooperatively funded and owned. I strongly believe that in the North West we can seize these opportunities, which will boost our economy and improve the lives of local people whilst making this a greener place.”

Steve Rotheram added: “I will be banging the drum over the next few years for more power, resource and funding from government to ensure that the Liverpool City Region is able to play its part on the journey to net zero – and attract the many thousands of green jobs and benefits it will bring.”