A Growing Environmental Technologies Sector

Environment and Energy Technologies are set to be one of the fastest-growing sectors in the Liverpool City Region, developing sustainable solutions to major environmental challenges. The sector currently employs over 9,000 people and generates wealth in excess of £1.1bn.

Significant progress has been made to develop on and off shore wind generation assets with over 50 turbines already established by a number of UK and overseas developers.

Biomass generation is now established within the City Region with several plants under development and commissioning. Photo-voltaic manufacturing capacity has expanded dramatically with the commissioning of the UK's largest PV manufacturing centre. The Mersey has one of the highest tidal ranges in Europe and a well-developed utility network on both banks, consequently it is ideal for tidal power generation. The private sector with support from local agencies and universities are investigating ways to harness this potential.

With 135km of coastline, Mersey Waterfront's natural environment makes it ideal for developing renewable energy sources such as wind, biomass and tidal power.
There are also opportunities across a wide range of other sub-sectors including Waste Management and Recycling & Recovery, Marine Pollution, Air Pollution Control, Water & Wastewater Treatment and Noise & Vibration Control.

Key Industry Features and Benefits

• Liverpool City Region has been chosen to host a major Smart Grid trial - the first of its kind in the UK.
• Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority operates a 37 hectare Integrated Waste Management Facility at Bidston Moss. It boasts state of the art technology in a Materials Recycling Facility (MRF), which can sort up to 30,000 tonnes of domestic waste a year.
• A £90million windfarm in Liverpool Bay. 25 wind turbines at the 2,400 acre Burbo Bank site generate enough electricity to supply 80,000 homes every year.
• A study identified the River Mersey as one of the top sites for tidal renewable energy in the UK. Experts say the Mersey estuary's large tidal range of 8-10 metres and unusual shape combine to create powerful tidal currents that could be harnessed to produce power.
• The government's flagship New Technologies Demonstrator Project will use Mechanical Heat Treatment to save up to 30,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year. This prestigious national pilot project has been awarded planning permission for a site on Huyton Industrial Estate.
• Pilkington is a world-leading manufacturer in photovoltaic glass, designed to convert sunlight into electricity.
• The University of Liverpool is at the forefront of study into our changing planet. Key areas of include: climate change, Integrated Management and Ecosystem Research, marine technologies specialism, including tidal energy, and including energy efficiency.
• Liverpool John Moores University is leading on sustainable technologies with a Centre for Environmental Technology, Research Centre for Electrical Energy Efficiency, School of Engineering (biofuels specialism) and the Liverpool Logistics, Offshore and Marine Centre.
• The new Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool is one of the greenest venues in Europe. Wind turbines generate around 10%of the new complex's electricity.
  

Existing investors include:
Pilkington, Veolia, Shanks, Biffa, Ineos Chlor, Peel Energy, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern, ENER-G, Dong Energy

Envirolink Northwest is a sector-support organisation, helping companies operating in the Environmental Technologies sector to develop and market sustainable solutions.

To contact The Mersey Partnership's Investment Team, please call 0151 237 3931 or email Mark Knowles, Low Carbon Economy Manager.