Ollerton, a former steal and coal basin in Nottinghamshire, has become a pioneer in re-conversion. By switching over from coal to green, the town has revolutionised its energy sector.

How We Do It: Energy synergy in Ollerton

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15139044/Y009-00018-001-EN.srt

Ollerton, close to Nottingham in the UK.

Until 1994 there were 600 workers   in the local mine.

From one day to the next all   the pit workers were made redundant.

One of them was Stan Crawford, now   CEO of the Sherwood Energy Village.

Instead of letting the community die out   as it did in many coal and steel basins

Stan Crawford and his friends embarked   on a sustainable development mission

to bring their city back to life   and attract companies and investors.

the 36 hectares around the mine   were completely transformed.

Offices were built on land   formerly used for coal extraction

they are low CO2 emission buildings   equipped with geothermal heat pumps.

Ollerton really benefited   from this sustainable development.

1200 jobs have already been created   on the site of the former mine

that's twice as many   as those lost in the '90s.

Sherwood Village has attracted industries

linked to tourism, financial services   and environment technology.

Some of the workers are former   pit workers who went through training.

Ground Source Solutions is one   of the companies in Sherwood village.

It employs 35 people in the area   and 750 worldwide.

It installs pump systems which extract   clean energy from the earth

Over 100 houses are being built under   very strict environmental conditions

like those used for the construction   of offices in Sherwood village.

The building sector   should create a lot of employment

and help reduce energy bills   and greenhouse gas emissions.

It is now counselling   the Romanian government

in the management   programme for closing mines.