PROJECTIONS about energy shortages have been made for decades, with concerns about the sustainability of fossil fuels driving a slow but growing interest in ‘alternative’ or green energy.

Although oil is relatively cheap at the moment it can only be a temporary situation.

While some government-backed schemes have helped to support an investment in green energy for households, such as solar panels, far greater potential lies perhaps in a stronger adoption of the technology on an industrial scale.

Warrington Borough Council has once again shown it is entrepreneurial in proposing a sales and lease-back arrangement involving solar (photovoltaic) panels at the Omega site.

The proposal is to rent the roof space from the firms and sell them the energy produced.

With some of the largest ‘sheds’ in Europe and margins for logistics and manufacturing continuing to be tight saving money on energy can make a real difference to profits for firms.

With a carbon footprint for Warrington which has been flagged as relatively poor in the recent Centre for Cities report bold strokes such as this are required to help address the balance.

Replicating this across the Warrington could see Warrington lead the way as a green-industry city.

 LAWRENCE Bellamy is associate dean at the University of Chester's Padgate campus and writes a regular column for business.