‘THIS is a great day for Britain and a big win for renewable energy,”

said Prime Minister David Cameron last week as he cut the ribbon on the world’s largest offshore wind farm.

London Array, the £1.9bn 175-turbine project, located off the South-East coast between Clacton and Margate, was proof that you can build large scale projects right here in Britain, said the PM.

The only problem with his stirring soundbite was that the lion’s share of contracts to build the wind farm were handed to foreign companies.

Developer Eon admits that only ten per cent of the work for the London Array went to British contractors.

JDR Cables, of Hartlepool, installer VSMC, of Darlington, and Ellis Holding Power, in Rillington, near Scarborough, helped to hook up the scheme that has delighted green campaigners. But the most lucrative deals went to the likes of Germany’s Siemens Wind Power. Denmark’s Dong Energy and Masdar, of the UAE, were also part of the consortium that built the site.

Siemens and Dong Energy also have longterm agreements to service the turbines.

Perhaps Mr Cameron should have called it a great day for Denmark, Germany and the UAE because they will reap the profits while the UK taxpayer supports the development with huge subsidies.

The failure to set a clear course on energy policy has hampered the development of the UK offshore wind industry, enabling European suppliers to retain their stranglehold on the sector.

Tag Energy Solutions, near Billingham, is among the firms that has suffered from Government dithering which has cost Britain jobs and investment.

The Coalition has been split, with Chancellor George Osborne among those pressing for investment in tried and tested technologies, such as gas and nuclear powered plants, while in the green corner Climate Change Minister Greg Barker is battling to convince potential investors that renewables are a safe bet.

Meanwhile, German, Dutch, Swedish and Norwegian suppliers are building wind farms off our coastline.

NOF Energy’s commitment to backing the region’s energy firms cannot be questioned.

The Durham City-based membership organisation, which has become a national body with an international presence, is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

With the oil and gas sector showing no signs of slowing down and growth in nuclear and renewables NOF looks well positioned for more success.

Congratulations to chief executive George Rafferty and the team.

NOT content with being the first owner of an imported Nissan Leaf former Radio One DJ Mark Goodier has become the first person in the UK to own a Sunderlandbuilt Leaf.

The former Top of the Pops host, best known for his time presenting the official UK top 40, was the first customer to collect the original Leaf – the world’s bestselling electric car – when the ground-breaking model was launched in Britain in March 2011. After 8,500 miles of mains-powered motoring, the DJ has traded in his old car for this year’s model, which features more than 100 improvements.

Leafs made at Nissan Sunderland will be appearing on the forecourts of North-East garages in the coming weeks.

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