IT STARTED out in 2009 as a husband and wife team and has expanded to employ 30 people with a vision to bring green power to Yorkshire.

Now Spencer and Tamsin Cassidy, the founders of Harrogate-based Clean Energy (Yorkshire), are hoping to win the Small Business Of The Year title in The Press Business Awards 2012.

Starting out three years ago, the renewable energy company has continued to grow after taking on a range of projects, such as Harrogate Grammar School, where their technicians fitted 200 solar panels to two roofs.

Mr Cassidy said: “The project took a team of three, who had to battle against gale-force winds, sub-zero conditions and just eight hours of light a day, just two weeks to complete.

“It was the company’s 96th installation since the end of October and the panels are now generating just under 50kw of electricity, enough to power 4,500 low-energy light bulbs or 3,000 computer screens.

In February, the couple set up a new biomass division on the back of a Government announcement to offer incentives for the take up of the wood-pellet burning systems.

Mrs Cassidy said: “Biomass burners derive energy from living things, such as wood-pellets and, as well as being greener, are at least 20 per cent cheaper to run than LPG and oil-fired boilers.

“The fuel used in the Clean Energy (Yorkshire) systems are wood pellets made from densely packed sawdust which boast a low moisture content for maximum efficiency.

“Wood pellet burners generate up to 90 per cent less CO2 emissions than heating oil and the pellets are more efficient to transport as they are often sourced locally.”

Other projects include providing a renewable energy system for First Easingwold (Forest of Galtres) Scout Group, which wanted to transform a remote wooden hut into an eco-friendly, green-powered community facility.

The couple said they believe being green “is good for business and, ultimately, good for the planet too”.