High Hopes for the Green Economy There has been emphasis from all over the globe on the opportunity to use green economies in the bail out following the recession. In a recent interview with the Observer Newspaper Prime Minister Gordon Brown commented, "Rather than [the recession] pushing the environment into a lower order of priority, the environment is part of the solution".

Barak Obama has also been vocal about his plans to use environmental sustainability to create jobs saying in a recent Democratic Party radio address, 'to put people back in work today and reduce our dependence on foreign oil tomorrow, we will double our renewable energy production and renovate public buildings to make them more energy efficient'.

Green Business also reported that Asian nations are too seizing this opportunity. 'Japan is already one of the world's leading developers of green technologies', stating that it 'currently employs 1.4m people and generates sales of $(USA)745bn'. The article went on to say that Japan aims 'to create a green business sector worth $(USA)1 trillion and employing 2.2m people.'

The UK green market is set to grow significantly over the coming years. In recent plans the PM has hoped to create 100,000 jobs and the environmental industries sector is thought to play a huge role in this.

The Low Carbon International Marketing Strategy aims to promote the UK as a global hub for low carbon solutions. It is one of many exciting developments currently taking place in the sector and hopes to translate international requirements into commercial opportunities.

The UKTI state that the leading driver for the strategy, being worked on in partnership between government, industry and external stakeholders, is to build the capacity to respond to demand, making the UK a global hub.

Publication of the strategy is expected in the spring and will include a series of marketing propositions to promote product and service solutions internationally with focus on priority markets. Details of the best of British companies and academia will be given and act as a 'common voice' within the industry.

If you wish to become involved, or for further information, please visit http://www.ukti-lowcarboneconomy.org/ where you can be kept up to date with developments and fill in an online survey giving your inputs to the strategy.

London's green slackers to be named and shamed Mayor of London Boris Johnson has suggested that the city's least green companies may soon be named and shamed in a new list published alongside the Livingstone initiated Green500. Green500 is a list to act as a reward for the capital's highest environmental performers and a new non-green list could be introduced to punish those not taking action. At a recent event the Mayor described himself as not being afraid to shame companies and stating, "we could have a non-green 300 to go with our Green500." Could this lead to increased investment in London's clean technology solutions?

The CleanTech Innovation Forum enjoyed resounding success in late 2008. Exchanges held in Harrogate and Manchester were attended by delegates with a range of backgrounds who were able to network with counterparts from organisations throughout the supply chain. Attendees were able to learn more about this emerging industry, explore possible collaborations and show case new projects. 'This was an excellent medium to be able to engage, interact and share knowledge' commented Lenny Koh of the University of Sheffield, who went on to say "The day provided a fantastic networking platform helping our development, and is extremely important for our region".

The programmes at each event included a wide range of sessions allowing delegates to pre-plan their own agendas. The informal nature and small size of the sessions allowed discussions to be highly interactive and take the direction appropriate to the people around the table. One delegate commented 'The ability to discuss my concerns and thoughts with people from a wide range of organisations, both speakers and delegates, made this not only a valuable source of information but a most enjoyable experience.'

There are many developments currently taking place in the carbon economy and the event provides the opportunity to stay updated, ask questions and stay ahead in the field. Andy Lewis from the Energy Institute remarked, 'This is an excellent opportunity to engage with those working in this increasingly important sector.'

For more information about our next event, taking place in London on June 11th, please visit our web page (www.carbon-innovation.com/cleantech) or call Ellie Hooper on 01883 344 799.

And finally…. Turbine attacked by UFO On 8th January the front page of the Sun newspaper read 'UFO Hits Turbine'. Various accounts of UFO sitings, with on lookers seeing 'strange lights' in the sky, were included in the story prompting coverage from many other media bodies. Perhaps most interesting was the story posted by the Guardian on its web page later that day. The broadsheets director of digital content, Emily Bell, had an innocent explanation for the light show, 'It was a medium-sized fireworks display with absolutely no ballistics, and the fireworks were mostly dropping over my parents' house. But we were laughing that we could have broken the wind turbine,". Emily had gathered with family to celebrate the 80th birthday of her Dad and believes that these were the lights seen be those claiming to have seen a UFO. The Bell family however take no responsibility for the damage to the turbine, so perhaps there still is an extra terrestrial body at large.

Funding Opportunities

Each month we profile a funding scheme available to organisations developing clean technologies. This month we outline the support available from WRAP to assist companies involved in recycling and reprocessing.

WRAP Grants: The Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) is Defra funded to provide support services to the recycling industry. The organisation helps individuals, businesses and local authorities to reduce waste and recycle more, making better use of resources and helping to tackle climate change. They aim to do this by decreasing the volume of landfill and delivering economic benefits to businesses, local authorities and consumers.

Rather than on a rolling basis WRAP capital grants are made available when the organisation has recognised strategic need or market failure. There are few restrictions on the size and type of organisation that can apply but these factors may affect the amount of funding available. As well as commercial businesses organisations such as local authorities, governmental bodies, charities and community associations can apply, but funding is only given where a project demonstrates that it is commercially viable in the long term without the requirement of further grants.

In addition to capital grants WRAP also provides support for recycling businesses. The support aims to help recycling and reprocessing companies with their expansion by offering business services that include; paid consultancy support to help attract investment, up to £30,000 funding for an interim manger for a specified project, up to £5,000 for management training, up to £20,000 to help understand and protect intellectual property and access to their eQuip residual value guarantee leasing scheme. Eligible companies for this scheme are small or medium sized enterprises recycling one or more of the following: aggregates, glass, plastics, organics, plastics, paper, wood, tyres, plasterboard and batteries.

For more information or to enquire about becoming involved please visit http://www.wrap.org.uk/wrap_corporate/funding/index.html

Export Opportunities

India Waste Management Seminar Mission
With the total size of the market for the environmental sector in India around $2.4 billion. UK Trade & Investment is organising a Seminar Mission to India in March 2009. The mission will focus on Waste Management, in particular: Landfill gas to power, RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel), Biomethanation / Anaerobic technologies,Biomass energy, Landfill operations.

For more information please contact Louise Colwell (020 7215 4479 louise.colwell@ukti.gsi.gov.uk)

How to Clean Up in Romania
The EU has allocated €30 million to Romania over the next 8 years to focus on developing its infrastructure. Key areas where investments will be made include recycling, waste management, land remediation and water and waste water treatment. Full commercial support is on offer to West Midland based organisations and there is also a grant of up to £400 (50% of travel costs) on offer to help companies that want to participate.

To find out more please contact Simon Preston at UK Trade and Investment (01422 825749 / 07976 895701 / simon.preston@innovas.co.uk)