A 29-year old Bradford businessman who has amassed a fortune of more than £30 million through green energy trading is the UK’s sixth richest young entrepreneur Sean O’Connor, founder of Clean Energy Capital (CEC plc) ranks one place behind Harry Potter actor Daniel Radcliffe in the latest Sunday Times Young Rich List, which includes successful people under 30.

After graduating from Northumbria University, Mr O’Connor, who was born in Bradford, became a successful property developer at the age of 23.

He launched a number of ventures in the Sunder-land area, building a portfolio of 40 properties worth more than £5 million.

As the property market cooled, Mr O’Connor spent 12 months researching the fast-developing ‘green market’.

In 2007 he launched his present company, which is now a leading provider of funds for low-carbon businesses and technology.

His business employs 11 staff at offices in Sunderland, Leeds and London, and in 2009 CEC plc made profits of £1.25 million.

This year they are forecast to grow to £3 million this year.

CEC is based in Leeds and it employs 11 people.

Another major initiative is the construction of ‘eco towns’, with homes which can create their own energy supply, and biofuel farms using high-yield locally-grown crops combined with additives to create carready fuel.

Mr O’Connor has raised £50 million to invest in clean energy projects and emerging technologies across the country.