LIVERPOOL’S Echo Arena BT Convention Centre will this week host a major conference for the renewable energy sector.

And an umbrella organisation for port firms – Mersey Maritime – is urging small businesses in the Liverpool city region to take advantage of the growing wind energy market.

The Offshore Wind Conference is being organised by RenewableUK, a body focusing on renewable energy industries such as tidal, wave and wind power.

The conference takes place on Wednesday and Thursday this week, and presents an “excellent” opportunity for small firms to make connections in the offshore wind power industry.

There will be 167 exhibitions and more than 2,600 people from the renewables sector, as well as representatives from Merseyside firms.

The wind power sector currently supplies the UK with 1.1 gigawatts of power.

As an island nation, the UK is regarded as having great potential for further expansion of its wind power sector.

Experts believe investment in renewables is essential if the country is to plug anticipated future gaps in energy supply.

A £15bn wind farm is planned for south of the Isle Of Man, known as the Irish Sea Zone.

Together with other planned farms around the UK coastline, it is hoped the amount of power generated by wind power could be raised to 5.6 gigawatts.

The Irish Sea Zone wind farm is located for maximum exposure to sea winds, known to be stronger and more consistent than those on shore.

It will also ensure those who find turbines visibly intrusive will not have their scenery spoiled, as the structures will be placed at least 5km out to sea.

This allows both the farms and the turbines to be much greater in size, offering the scope for larger, more powerful, turbines in the future, as well as bigger, more productive, wind farms.