An innovative new company aims to create enough clean energy for 20% of the homes in Southport.
EQTEC is seeking to create a sustainable waste-to-energy project at a green hybrid energy park in Southport. It is a specialist in turning waste into power without the emission of toxic fumes.
Innovators of a proven, leading-edge ‘syngas’ technology, EQTEC will work with local stakeholders to develop and build a plant suited to local waste and energy needs.
Once built, it will be one of just three sites in the United Kingdom using EQTEC’s unique ‘cleantech’, with the others located in Teesside and in Flintshire, Wales. This Southport development will create around 40 highly-skilled, green-collar jobs.
The firm was last week praised in Parliament by Southport MP Damien Moore, who highlighted the benefits to the local community as he called for a debate to discuss clean energy.
Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, replied that “Companies such as EQTEC are exactly what we need to keep us on course for net zero by 2050 while maintaining a healthy, varied and affordable energy supply.”
The proposals come at a time of anxiety for Europe’s energy market, which is highly dependent on affordable gas supplies being provided by Russia.
The debate followed a visit by Damien Moore to EQTEQ’s proposed Energy Recovery Park on Crowland Street in High Park in Southport, where he enjoyed a close look at its operation.
The company has submitted a planning application for the scheme to Sefton Council.
Jeff Vander Linden, COO at EQTEC, said: “It was a real pleasure to share our plans with Mr Moore at the project site in Southport. We truly appreciate his enthusiasm and support for EQTEC’s unique technology and for our plans to supply Southport with clean energy from locally sourced, non-recyclable waste.
“Mr Moore was clear that he wants us to move quickly and decisively to get this plant built, and with his support, we intend to do just that.”
Southport MP spoke in Parliament as he suggested to Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, that the Government should consider “a range of options to ensure that energy prices in the UK remain affordable”.
He said: “I recently met EQTEC, a company operating in my constituency in partnership with Southport Hybrid Energy Park, that will turn waste into power without the emission of toxic fumes and that aims to provide enough clean energy for 20% of the homes in Southport.
“Does he agree that a debate to discuss clean energy innovation companies such as EQTEC would be worthy of this House and worthy of the time of the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy?”
Jacob Rees Mogg replied: “Companies such as EQTEC are exactly what we need to keep us on course for net zero by 2050 while maintaining a healthy, varied and affordable energy supply.
“Embracing a wide variety of energy sources is vital for keeping the lights on and our houses warm.
“As the recent difficulties have shown, we need to embrace a widespread energy supply, from nuclear power to power provided by companies such as the one that Damien Moore mentions, and, of course, natural gas as a transition fuel on the journey to net zero in 2050.
“Her Majesty’s Government is committed to decarbonising our electricity system by 2035, backed by investment in renewables, such as tidal stream energy and nuclear.
“I am sure that, above all, our voters care for cheap, plentiful energy in their homes, and we want to ensure that that is compatible with net zero.”
Speaking after the debate, Damien Moore MP said: “It is difficult to overstate the potential of these plans for Southport.
“Once built, the new clean energy facility will be one of the first in the UK using EQTEC’s technology, which will spur Southport forward in becoming one of the country’s most environmentally sustainable towns and create around 40 fantastic highly-skilled new jobs in the process.
“We should all be proud that this state-of-the-art facility will be coming to Southport.
“It is such great news that up to 20% of our Southport’s energy needs could be generated within our town, and in a sustainable way too, by cleanly and efficiently making better use of our non-recyclable waste.
“I am looking forward to seeing this exciting development progress and stand ready to offer any support I can to see the plans realised as soon as possible.”
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