This week I had the pleasure of visiting LiNa Energy at the White Cross Business Park in Lancaster, where I officially opened their brand-new battery manufacturing facility. LiNa is a homegrown clean tech company pioneering next-generation, salt-based batteries, an innovative and sustainable alternative to lithium-ion technology.

With £20 million in investment, including support from Innovate UK, this state-of-the-art plant will bring skilled jobs to our community and boost green growth right here in Lancaster. What struck me most was how the company has combined research, innovation, and manufacturing on one site to help tackle one of the biggest global challenges, reliable, low-cost energy storage in solar-rich regions.

This is a proud moment for our city. From its roots as a Lancaster University start-up in 2017, LiNa has grown into a key player in the future of clean energy, proving that with the right support, our region can help take the lead on green solutions and climate action.

Massive congratulations to everyone over at LiNa Energy on this impressive development and thank you again for inviting me to be involved with this important milestone.