A 29-year-old Bradford-born entrepreneur has raised £50m to invest in clean energy projects and emerging technologies.

And Sean O’Connor expects to secure more than £100m from institutions and rich investors in the next 12 months.

Mr O’Connor started his first business at the age of 23 as a property developer, and has a portfolio of around 40 properties worth more than £5m.

As the property boom waned he researched new opportunities and identified the fast-developing ‘green market’ as having major investment potential.

He started Clean Energy Capital plc in 2007 and has secured funds for green projects in the UK, Latin America, Middle East and the USA.

CEC Plc uses clients’ money to invest in green and alternative technology projects – and is also a carbon trading business.

Green projects include increasing desalination of sea water and technology to convert waste into energy and eliminate landfill. Another major initiative is the construction of ‘eco towns’, with homes that create their own energy supply, and biofuel farms using high-yield locally-grown crops combined with additives to create car-ready fuel.

Sean said: “Green projects need development funding. We have provided a service for a select group of high net worth and institutional clients who are attracted to the unprecedented commercial opportunities.”

Leeds-based CEC, which employs 11 people, aims to achieve profits of more than £3m this year.