REDCAR AND CLEVELAND NEWS
RENEWABLE FIRM OPENS TEES HQ AFTER FUEL BOOST
A
renewable firm has made a long-term investment in its Teesside business and is now looking to the future with increased confidence after the introduction of a more sustainable form of petrol across the UK .
Ensus has opened a new £ 1.3m UK headquarters facility close to its biorefinery on the Wilton International site .
The move means around 20 staff working at a leased former headquarters in Yarm will join the 80-strong team .
Ensus is the UK market leader in the production of renewable ethanol , an alcohol blended with petrol to reduce overall carbon emissions from vehicles .
It also makes carbon dioxide as a byproduct of its biofuel production and following the recent UK shortage , Ensus is now providing up to 40 per cent of the
nation ’ s requirement . Although Ensus is being adversely impacted by high wholesale gas prices , the future for the bioethanol industry is now looking much brighter following the government ’ s recent decision to double the volume of the alcohol allowable in UK petrol from five per cent ( E5 ) to 10 per cent ( E10 ).
The move brings the UK into line with other countries and is having a major impact on emissions from vehicles – leading to overall carbon reductions equivalent to taking an estimated 350,000 cars off Britain ’ s roads each year .
Ensus has been at the forefront of the drive to introduce E10 as the standard grade of petrol ever since the £ 300m Teesside biorefinery began operations in 2010 and its delay was restricting the market for ethanol in the UK .
High-flyers earn prestigious award
A Redcar firm that exports to 30 countries through London ’ s Heathrow Airport has been named among 10 “ Global Britain Business Champions ”.
Micropore Technologies , a solutions provider for specialist particles and emulsion manufacturing , has been announced as the North- East winner of the airport ’ s competition , which recognises and celebrates SMEs that export via Heathrow – the UK ’ s largest port .
Micropore exports to around 30 countries via Heathrow , taking advantage of the time savings offered by air freight .
Located near Teesside airport , the company makes use of Heathrow ’ s direct regional connectivity , forging links between Teesside and the rest of the world .
Work begins on flagship regeneration project
£ 107m investment for South Bank Quay
Beyond Housing ’ s flagship £ 16m regeneration and development scheme at Church Lane North , in the Grangetown area , is now under way .
Beyond Housing , in partnership with contractor EQUANS ( the new name for ENGIE ), officially launched the 309-home estate regeneration on Monday 18 October 2021 .
The project is being funded by Beyond Housing , supported by a Homes England grant of £ 711,000 .
This progressive project , developed with residents , sees the redesign of the obsolete Radburn estate layout – a design characterised by the rear gardens of homes facing the street and the fronts of homes facing one another , over a communal space .
The new UK Infrastructure Bank will make its first-ever investment in the Tees region , with £ 107m for Teesworks ’ South Bank Quay project .
The loan will see part of the former Redcar Steelworks site , along the River Tees , completely transformed , creating a 450-metre quay to service the offshore wind sector , providing opportunities for manufacturing , storage and mobilisation of wind technology .
The project will significantly boost the UK ’ s capability in this sector , supporting the government ’ s target to be a world leader for offshore wind by 2035 and the UK ’ s plan to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 .
Investment will develop country ’ s largest ‘ urban quarry ’
Scott Bros is investing more than £ 4m in the country ’ s largest “ urban quarry ” – allowing it to convert more construction and excavation waste into sustainably-produced sand and aggregate .
Its current wash plant handles up to 50 tons of inert material per hour , while the new plant will be capable of processing a further 200 tons per hour at the new site off John Boyle Road in South Bank , Middlesbrough – next to the Teesworks industrial zone .
The development is expected to create at least seven jobs and secures the future of a further 54 of its 120-strong workforce .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 153