RENEWABLE energy specialists from the region have signed agreements to collaborate with Chinese companies to develop new technology.

Renew Tees Valley chief executive Dermot Roddy was taking part in a mission organised by regional development agency One NorthEast.

Mr Roddy visited a facility in Shanghai which has developed a range of vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

He said: "There are tremendous opportunities both for UK companies to do business and for the development of collaboration arrangements over a range of fields.

"That includes the renewable energy and hydrogen fuel economy fields, where we have a particular interest in the Tees Valley.

"We visited Jiangsu and Shanghai for meetings, and the signing of agreements on the development of technology co-operation.

"These agreements provide a mechanism for collaboration via our centres of excellence, such as the New and Renewable Energy Centre and the Centre for Process Innovation, regional universities and local companies."

He said the Chinese were working on solar and wind power, and biomass power plants similar to those being developed by SembCorp Utilities at Wilton, on Teesside.