Our region has the potential to be leading the UK’s clean energy economy – that was the message from the launch of the Clean Energy South paper at St Mary’s Stadium.
The paper, which was collated by academics at the University of Southampton as a Civic Impact Project in partnership with Business South, laid out the current picture, which shows Hampshire and the Solent faces an energy deficit. Renewable energy generated in the region only meets 8% of demand – for every £1 spent on electricity 92p leaves the region.
But the report also underlined the vast untapped potential that could transform the region into:
• a net exporter of green energy
• generating new jobs
• reducing energy bills
• contributing to the region’s £81bn annual economic output.
Samantha Clough, who chairs the Business South Energy and Utilities Action Group , explained how the business led group had been investigating how energy had become more than a utility and was increasingly a growth issue for the region. Working in partnership with the University of Southampton has given us an evidence base to take forward, she said and it will be discussed at the next meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Central South chaired by Richard Quigley MP.
The session was expertly chaired by Sue Littlemore, Director of Civic University, University of Southampton and it was fascinating to hear from Bill Bullen, founder and CEO Utilita Energy Ltd, Catriona Cockburn, CEO Energise South Downs, Professor AbuBakr Bahaj and Darren Paffey MP.
Read the full Clean Energy South report here: clean_energy_south_report.pdf
