RSSUK has potential to be global leader in shift to low-carbon
14 August 2012, source edie newsroom
"With the right policies in place, green business will be a major pillar of our future growth " - CBI
Related articles
According to research by the CBI, the UK has the ability to become a global leader in low-carbon products and services, which could add £20bn extra in annual GDP by 2015.
East of England director Richard Tunnicliffe said: "In reality, with the right policies in place, green business will be a major pillar of our future growth.
"With something like a third of all our growth accounted for by green business last year, the UK could be a global front-runner in the shift to low-carbon."
However, the CBI's call for smarter Government policy comes after the group was questioned by environmental industry organisations for lobbying against the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) and calling for it to be scrapped.
A CBI report showed that the UK's share of the £3.3tn global green market grew by 2.3% in real terms in 2010/11, reaching £122bn and accounting for around 8% of GDP. The CBI said that green business may have accounted for over a third of all UK growth in 2011/12.
Across every sector and region, green business activity now employs around 940,000 people in the UK, with two thirds of these jobs outside London and the South East.
The CBI added that green goods and services are also a strong contributor to UK trade, and the biggest links are to fast-growing economies such as China, which buys 7% of UK green exports. By the end of this Parliament the contribution from green business could cut the UK's trade deficit by half.
Leigh Stringer
Send to a friend
Link to this page
This story is tagged with:
Click a keyword to see more stories on that topic,
view related news, or
find more related items.
Comments | By Terence Doyle at 15/08/2012 20:26:00 Sirs, Whilst I endorse all that you say here, I ask that you step back for a moment and consider the following:- Coal fired power stations are uneconomical but essential back-up for non-productive periods of wind and wave power generation. Their greatest downside is that at best they can only convert 30% of ingoing (Coal) energy into exportable (to our grid) electricity. Had we (UK) spent a small percentage of the recent Olympic funding on Gasifiers capable of gasifying Municipal Waste, as well as coal, and the many other waste and by-products of oil, etc.; we could benefit in many ways. Production of Syn (Synthetic) Gas and recovery of 90% of ingoing energy will reduce coal requirements by at least 50%. Gas powered generating turbines can be turned on and off within a few minutes thereby eliminating the need for expensive coal power during standby periods. Use of local coal as opposed to imports, and use of waste as opposed to coal, together will significantly reduce our need and cost of coal imports. Reduced coal imports is one factor, reduced transportation of it is yet another benefit. Reduced tonnage of coal consumed is a reduction in Co2 generated. Same applies to reduced transportation. I am advised that 45 worth of coal through a gasifier can produce 1MW of electricity as compared to 100 (per MW) when dependant of Wind turbines. UK produced Syn Gas will reduce the need to import LNG (Liquefied natural Gas) and there is an all round opportunity to reduce our overall energy costs. Syn Gas can readily be converted to sulphur free diesel fuel. The very production of Syn Gas is the best ever opportunity to Capture, store or use Co2! Production of UK coal and subsequent gas, will create 1000 s of jobs in many industries including (but not limited to) transport, engineering, maintenance, etc. Who among us would not welcome a reduction in fuel costs? Lower fuel costs will lower production and food costs. We would be more competitive in world markets leading to improved exports. Please think of what improved exports and reduced imports can do for UK Balance of Payments and subsequent costs of borrowing. I am sure there are many in our UK population who could make similar beneficial suggestions. The question is, who needs to know? And, are they sufficiently interested to give a hearing? With grateful thanks to all at CBI for their well intentioned efforts. |
flag as inappropriateYou need to be logged in to make a comment. Don't have an account? Set one up right now in seconds!
© Faversham House Group Ltd 2012. edie news articles may be copied or forwarded
for individual use only. No other reproduction or distribution is permitted without prior written consent.
