Engineering news
A £350 million bioethanol plant at Vivergo, in Hull, has officially opened.
The plant, which is a joint venture between AB Sugar, BP, and DuPont is the UK’s biggest bioethanol plant and the largest single-source supplier of animal feed.
Business secretary Vince Cable, who officially opened the plant today, said: "Energy is critical for the UK's growth prospects. As part of the government's industrial strategy we are working closely with industry on long term plans to develop stronger supply chains, encourage future investment, support skills and research and development."
David Richards, managing director of Vivergo, said: “We are proud to be the first major renewables investment to become operational in the Humber region, cementing its position as the UK’s Energy Estuary."
Vivergo takes 1.1 million tonnes of high starch feed wheat each year and converts it into bioethanol and animal feed with no waste. The plant is capable of producing 420 million litres of bioethanol a year at full capacity, which is equivalent to a third of the UK’s current demand.
Vince Cable also announced that around £1 million of government funding has been awarded to a Humberside laser technology company, creating almost 60 new jobs.
The funding, which comes from the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), has been awarded to Rofin-Sinar, a medium-sized manufacturer of industrial lasers.
The cash will help the company to develop lasers that can cut through the touchscreen glass used in smartphones faster to reduce manufacturing times. The investment will also enable the firm to relocate to a new factory and hire 60 highly skilled workers.
Cable said: “We are committed to supporting businesses and creating highly skilled jobs in this area. The money for Rofin-Sinar is in addition to £77 million already allocated through the Regional Growth Fund since its creation.”
The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is worth £3.2 billion and will operate across England until 2017. The fund's objective is to support projects and programmes that lever private sector investment to create economic growth and sustainable employment.