IT’S easy to take sides when it comes to renewable energy. Some focus on the hefty cost of manufacture and implementation, others point out the potentially infinite energy supplies that, over time, produce good economies of scale.

One thing we should all agree on is the west’s dependence on oil and gas is increasingly volatile. A new, long term approach is therefore required, but which options to choose?

Few would want to live near a wind farm, environmental groups complain that tidal energy has a negative impact on wildlife, and biomass is only a renewable resource if serious commitment is made to replant crops.

So what about solar power? The UK is currently number five, globally, in the utility-scale solar markets, and figures released by Wiki-Solar on Friday show this country has spearheaded a return to growth for the sector in Europe.

Now York is set to be first in the country to have water treatment sites run by solar power after Yorkshire Water assessed its facilities and found Naburn’s sewage works and Elvington’s water treatment plants are the best suited.

These are energy-intensive processes, so it is good that renewable sources may soon power them. However, we trust that reducing costs won’t come at a price; namely an environmental impact on residents.