Yorkshire businessman John Ogden says the region’s biggest energy users should be offered greater support to help them switch to renewable power as a way of protecting themselves from the soaring cost of fuel.
The chairman of Ogden Energy Group believes a buoyant renewables industry will support economic growth and create jobs.
John Ogden said:
As a nation we should be looking for ways to make clean energy a viable and profitable alternative to fossil fuels, reducing our reliance on an increasingly unstable global energy market.
Yorkshire is particularly strong in manufacturing and tourism and businesses in these sectors are generally high energy users who would benefit from measures that make it easier for them to go green.
Ogden’s career began in the 1960s with Ogden Demolition and he became a pioneer in mining and quarrying during the 1970s and 80s progressing from excavation to the manufacture of specialist quarry equipment.
He is now chairman of a portfolio of energy businesses focussing on wind, solar and biomass, including Think Renewable Energy at Weeton near Harrogate.
Richard Peat, managing director of Think Renewable Energy, said biomass provided one of the most practical and cost effective solutions for high volume business energy consumers:
The latest biomass boilers will meet the energy needs of medium and large scale commercial customers for at least 20 years and cut their bills dramatically but the initial investment needed is putting businesses off. It’s catch 22.
He called for more schemes to be introduced that would make it easier for big energy users to switch.
Richard Peat said:
The Government and renewable firms have a role to play in supporting business and the right approach could have a very positive effect on the long term health of the economy.
Think recently launched its own scheme to help businesses switch to biomass. The company will supply, install and maintain new generation biomass boilers, developed to meet the needs of medium and large scale energy users for 20 years, with no capital outlay required.
Richard Peat said he hoped the initiative will help to kick start Yorkshire’s renewable energy revolution.
Richard Peat added:
Cost is usually the biggest factor preventing commercial organisations from switching to biomass boilers but our new biomass scheme means they can get a brand new, industry leading boiler without any up front cost which we will install, service and maintain for 20 years.
We’ve managed projects in agriculture, the public sector, manufacturing industry and public services and have helped businesses of all sizes plan and implement a biomass system for one building or multiple sites.
For more information about the scheme visit www.thinkrenewableenergy.co.uk
