We're not updating this website or sending email alerts until after the general election on 6 May, in accordance with the rules on election propriety.

Sub menu

Low carbon investments

25 Feb 2010

Student Scientists The Government has announced new investment in wind turbines, electric vehicles and low energy homes as part of its commitment to cut CO2 emissions.

It has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mitsubishi Power Systems Europe (MPSE) to invest £100m in new wind turbines in the UK.

£30m has been allocated for a network of electric vehicle charging points across the UK and from 2011 consumers will receive up to £5000 on purchasing a new electric car.

A £17m trial to install innovative low carbon technologies in social housing to make them carbon neutral is also underway.

Wind turbines
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband signed the non binding MoU with MPSE in London today.

The Government intends to provide grants of up to £30 million to support the project. This follows on from extensive work with MPSE and discussions that the company had with Lord Mandelson and Ed Miliband at the Global Investors conference on Monday.

By working closely with Mitsubishi, the UK is a strong contender to be a manufacturing base for Mitsubishi in the future, which could create up to 1,500 new jobs.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said:

"Mitsubishi’s investment in wind turbine R&D and the creation of 200 highly skilled jobs is great news for our future plans in low carbon, high technology industries. The UK is now well placed to manufacture the turbines needed for the next generation of offshore wind farms. We will continue to work with Mitsubishi to secure production in the UK."

Read the full BIS press notice here.

Electric vehicles
The £5000 Plug-in Car Grant will be distributed directly to the consumer at the point of purchase and will be available across the UK from January 2011.

To support this, the Government will roll out a £30m trial network of electric vehicle charging points, called Plugged in Places. They will be located in:

car parks
major supermarkets
leisure and retail centres; and
local streets

The first Plugged in Places will be based in London, Milton Keynes and the North East. Over 11,000 charging points will be installed over three years.

Business minister Pat McFadden said:

"The Government is focusing on this sector as a priority and we are committed to helping British businesses take advantage of the growth potential and job opportunities this presents."

Read the full Department for Transport press notice here.

Retrofit for the future
The Government-funded Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is leading on a £17m initiative to trial a range of innovative new low carbon technologies in social housing homes across the UK.

It will trial the best combination of new and existing technologies to reduce energy consumption, including:

insulation
combination boilers
improving ‘air tightness’; and
solar panels.

Science Minister Lord Drayson said:

"Innovative businesses have a crucial role to play in the low-carbon economy. This £17 million investment by Government will give companies the chance to grab a share of the significant potential retrofit market."

Read the full TSB press notice here.

Images