Wirral bids to become green energy pioneer

A GROUP of major private sector companies have teamed up with Wirral Council to bid for cash from the Government’s £200m Technology and Innovation programme to build a national Technology Innovation Centre in Birkenhead.

The bid has been led by Mersey Maritime – a cluster organisation representing around 1,000 local businesses with interests in shipping. It is also being supported by Cammell Laird, Peel Energy, Wirral Council, Liverpool University and the Mersey Partnership.

The proposed centre would be based at Mersey Maritime’s existing facilities in Birkenhead, next to Cammell Laird’s shipyard. It would promote collaboration between businesses and universities in the green tech sector.

Cllr Phil Davies, Wirral Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Offshore renewable energy is a rapidly growing, multi-billion pound global industry which includes technologies for offshore wind, wave and tidal power.  

“We are uniquely placed in Wirral because of our geography and existing skills to develop these industries and drive the development of innovative science and technology that can be used by UK companies to gain a share of this growing market.  

Jim Teasdale, chief executive of Mersey Maritime Group said: “Mersey Maritime is the regional body for the Maritime Sector but we are increasingly working with companies and partners UK-wide in the field of renewable technologies, as related opportunities open up.

“As such, we are ideally placed to bring together the combined expertise of public and private sector partners, and build upon Liverpool city-region’s already strong reputation for excellence in both maritime and innovation by locating a national Technology Innovation Centre here on Wirral.”