Moves to expand the wind energy sector in the north-east of England could create thousands of new jobs and generate £3 billion for the local economy, the energy minister is to explain.

With the International Energy Agency having recently estimated that as much as 17 per cent of all global electricity will need to come from wind power so as to meet current carbon reduction targets, Malcolm Wicks is in the region to officially open the UK's latest, and most ambitious, green energy project.

Due to be developed by the newly-established New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC), alongside California's Clipper Wind, the new Gateshead site will be home to a 7.5 megawatt wind energy installation which will stand around ten times higher than the Angel of the North.

"The north-east already has a wealth of skills and experience in the manufacturing sector to diversify in to the green energy market," Mr Wicks will say.

"NaREC is setting a fantastic example and I hope many other manufacturing companies will recognise the opportunities a shift to a low-carbon economy will create."

The development has been welcomed by local development groups as well as by environmental campaigners, particularly after Shell recently pulled out of the plans for a 1,000 megawatt site just outside of London so as to focus on the US market.