Regional report: Yorkshire Power - from black gold to green energy

Yorkshire and the Humber have been powering the industrialisation of the UK for centuries. Areas like West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire were major coal producers during the Industrial Revolution and well into the 20^th century. The discovery of oil and gas in the North Sea in the late 1960s had a transformative effect on the UK’s energy supply, bringing the country’s 200-year coal dependency to an end.

Locating, extracting and refining vast quantities of these energy sources led to countless innovations being pioneered within the region, from machinery and ventilation systems to geological surveying techniques and safety practices. It also cultivated a skilled workforce, a well-developed energy infrastructure including ports, facilities and transportation networks, and an enduring commitment to R&D.

The region is home to a growing list of renewable energy projects that are the largest in Europe or the world or firsts in history

The region’s legacy in extractive industries, coupled with its strategic location, existing assets and ideal geographical features, uniquely position Yorkshire and the Humber to drive the next phase of industrialisation in the UK – the ‘Green Industrial Revolution.’