ONE of Britain's leading energy experts is to spell out his vision of the future in a North-East dale that has been chosen for renewable power projects.

Professor Ian Fells will explain at a meeting organised by the influential Weardale Society, in County Durham, how the various different technologies available today can achieve new ways of creating energy.

He will focus particularly on wind farms, hydro and geothermal or "hot rocks" projects, all of which have been proposed for the site of the Blue Circle cement works at Eastgate, which was closed by its French owner, Lafarge UK, last year.

Wear Valley District Council has given planning permission for a 150ft-high wind-monitoring mast to be erected at the quarry above the cement works.

Tests will be carried out by the Newcastle-based PB Power company.

The Upper Weardale Task Force, set up to regenerate the area, is expected to focus heavily on renewable energy in the first strategy document it is producing later this month.

"Since the Government issued its White Paper on energy needs earlier this year, there has been a lot of wishful thinking about various schemes," said Prof Fells, who broadcasts regularly for the BBC on energy matters.

"But I prefer to remain a realistic optimist. There is no way we can achieve everything in this field.

"I believe in clean energy, which is a mix of renewable energy and cleaner nuclear power."

Prof Fells has been an advisor to government departments and British companies.

The Weardale Society meeting is being held at Stanhope Church Hall tomorrow night, at 7.30pm. It is open to the public.