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Hype or hope? Will green hydrogen bring new benefits for businesses and communities in the North East?

A new working group is being created to help drive the production and use of green hydrogen in the North East.

A new working group is being created to help drive the production and use of green hydrogen in the North East. David Lynch, Energy Innovation Partnership Manager at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) and Colin Brown, Country Manager (UK and Ireland) with green hydrogen specialists Lhyfe, explain the potential benefits green hydrogen can bring.

How can increasing the use of green hydrogen benefit the North East?

Colin: Green hydrogen is produced with zero emissions and is a renewable alternative to gas and fossil fuels. Businesses can use it to help decarbonise their operations and it has a huge number of potential uses, from buses, cars, haulage and maritime transport, through to domestic and industrial heating.

David: At a time when we all have net zero plans for our businesses, hydrogen can help us meet our goals, plug the limitations of electrification and it can also help attract businesses to the North East and create more and better jobs.

What’s the potential scale of the opportunity?

David:By 2050 hydrogen could account for 20% to 35% of UK final energy consumption, and the North East has the ingredients needed to make the most of this opportunity. We have deep sea ports where we can lead the way in the use of hydrogen in the maritime industry; we have a solid skills base originating from the oil and gas industry, which can pivot into green hydrogen; and we have the R&D capabilities, with some of the strongest universities in the world within a few miles’ of each other.

Colin: Exactly. We have industries here that can really benefit from green hydrogen, like the offshore renewable energy supply chain. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to decarbonise that supply chain using hydrogen?

If we look globally, hydrogen is really taking off in Europe. The UK – and the North East – has a really strong opportunity to stay at the front of the curve and the North East is not only a region with huge potential to use hydrogen to decarbonise, but it is home to people with an appetite to make things happen. That’s why, when Lhyfe expanded into the UK last year, we chose Newcastle as our UK headquarters.

What’s happened so far to drive the region’s adoption of green hydrogen?

Colin: There are already hydrogen trials happening in the North East like Hydeploy’s demonstration of how hydrogen can help power homes and communities in Winlaton, Gateshead, and Northern Gas Networks’ Hydrogen Homes project.

David: The next step is to move forward into delivery and that’s why we held a green hydrogen summit earlier this month. It meant we could explore what hydrogen can do for the full range of organisations and communities in the North East and look at the scale of the opportunity.

What happens next?

David: The green hydrogen steering group, Co-Chaired by me and Professor Sara Walker from Newcastle University, will drive delivery of green hydrogen projects. It’s about moving things forward with the input of the academic, public and private sectors.

Colin: Lhyfe is here in the North East and we’re ready to invest in the North East. We aim to create a new production facility to supply the region with green hydrogen and we’re working with the new steering group to embed it as part of the North East’s energy system.

To make green hydrogen a success for the North East we need to fully understand how we can use it to help decarbonise the region, see where the demand is, and make sure we build the right capacity to meet that demand.

What are the benefits to organisations of being involved at this stage?

David: Being part of the steering group gives a platform for businesses, local authorities and universities to help steer the development of hydrogen in the North East.

Colin: Increasing hydrogen production and use is a full-region project and we know from our work in Europe that, once people see the benefits of hydrogen, they want to be a part of it.

We’ve got an opportunity to work together and create something quite special which benefits us all. If we don’t work together, the use of hydrogen is going to increase anyway, but we won’t have maximised the opportunities for the North East.

Together, we need to grab this opportunity and drive it forward.

If you want to be involved in the green hydrogen steering group, or if you have any comments or questions about it, get in touch with Kate Kelly on [email protected].

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Showcasing our regional innovation and demonstration capabilities

2022 has been a busy year for the region’s energy sector, with new investments, major events, and progress towards achieving the North East’s net zero goals. David Lynch, Energy Innovation Partnership Manager at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, takes a look back.

The energy sector in North East England is one of the region’s biggest growth industries and has a pivotal role to play in delivering the government’s Green Industrial Revolution, which aims to create and support up to 250,000 highly skilled green jobs in the UK, many of which will be here in the North East.

Against this backdrop, during 2022 the North East Energy Catalyst has continued to move forward at pace and at scale, with two new partners, University of Sunderland and the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), offering technical expertise and materials analysis capabilities to the Energy Catalyst partnership.  With these additions, we continued to showcase the region as the go-to place to develop and showcase new energy solutions that are changing the world. 

Energy Catalyst Summit

In March 2022, we hosted a North East Energy Catalyst Summit. The event provided a platform for some of our regional SMEs assisted via the North East Energy Innovation Challenge Programme. Power Roll Solar Ltd showcased their lightweight solar film with patented ‘microgroove technology’ first developed on our patch. With its low-cost, efficiency, lightweight and application credentials, I genuinely believe this technology could be a gamechanger to decarbonise urban and rural communities.  Look out for Power Roll appearing on rooftops or building facias soon! CrowdHouse Energy (a new entrant to the region), also showcased their solar canopy and car charging solution designed for business parks, transport hubs, public and/or private carparks.  What emerged from the Energy Summit was the pull both companies experienced in coming to the North East and a sense of drive-to-thrive here!  

In support of the Energy Catalyst Summit, board partners also opened their doors showcasing world leading research laboratories and test facilities – a welcome opportunity post COVID-19 for partners to get out and learn more about our assets.  Our summit was supported by a communications campaign enhancing exposure and reach of our capabilities.         

Clean Maritime Success

In April, the North East Energy Catalyst was part of a consortium showcasing the outcomes from a successful UKRI bid into the UKRI Clean Maritime Demonstrator competition alongside Port of Tyne, Siemens, Newcastle University, and the Connected Places Catapult. The North East Energy Catalyst played an important role bringing partners together at the Port of Tyne’s 2050 Maritime Innovation Hub to share outcomes and lessons learnt from the project. Our core message was that The Clean Tyne project is a great example of what can be achieved when multi-disciplinary partners unite towards a common goal.  The project installed a smart digital infrastructure to inform the future direction of decarbonisation at the Port of Tyne.  The success of this project has seen the consortium widen with another programme due to commence on a second UKRI funded programme of activity in 2023.  More to follow on that soon!

Strategic investment at core sites

We have seen some great regional announcements recently, setting a tone of optimism as we look forward to 2023 and beyond. Strategic investment in employment sites and port infrastructure are yielding returns.  In October, I was able to see this for myself, attending the launch of the Bates Clean Energy Terminal at Port of Blyth. The terminal offers enhanced facilities for companies in the renewables and offshore energy sector, a regional asset which will undoubtedly attract further investment from those involved in low carbon and innovation. Very recently we heard Rolls-Royce has shortlisted the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) spanning Sunderland and South Tyneside as a potential site for its new factory building Small Modular Reactors. Huge credit to our colleagues and friends at Invest North East England for these positive developments. 

An Energy Catalyst warm welcome

2022 has also seen some new entrants investing into the region. French company Lhyfe, a Green Hydrogen project development company set up its UK Headquarters in Newcastle upon Tyne. The North East Energy Catalyst  is supporting Lhyfe to make connections to our regional energy ecosystem and supporting plans for regional green hydrogen production facilities.  In January 2023 the Catalyst will be co-hosting a regional spotlight event on green hydrogen with support from Newcastle University and Sunderland City Council. Register for that here.

Accelerating our offshore offer

Our offshore capabilities continue to grow, bolstered by supply chain support programmes like the Technology, Innovation and Green Growth for Offshore Renewables (TIGGOR) Programme, now in its second phase. This is a regional North of Tyne programme to accelerate technology and service development and new product entry into the offshore wind supply chain.  I believe it offers an excellent entry point for those to seeking to pivot into the offshore renewables sector in areas of novel robotics for subsea inspection, AI, digital twins, machine learning techniques, sub-components or materials for offshore application.   

New regional test and demonstration facilities opening 2023

Our innovation and demonstration facilities continue to grow. Nationally important renewable energy technology and testing facilities are planned to open in 2023 at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult in Blyth and at Northern Gas Networks, Transport Gas and Electricity Research Laboratory (InTEGReL), which will see development of a Customer Energy Village in Gateshead, building a series of dwellings from different generations to replicate the UK housing stock. The energy village will be highly digitalised, providing world class research capacity to support the testing and commercialisation of new and renewable domestic energy technologies. 2022 has been a difficult and turbulent year for domestic energy consumers, plunging many households into fuel poverty this winter, and the role of this energy village will be of the utmost importance to help achieve equity for all in low carbon transition. 

North East Energy Catalyst within Net Zero North East England

On this note, the North East LEP, along with many other bodies, is supporting Net Zero North East England. The partnership unites leaders from across the public sector, business and VCSE sector and education organisations to work together to support the net zero transition. In 2023, the partnership will explore common opportunities and challenges and identify areas to accelerate the region’s net zero transition. The North East Energy Catalyst will play an important role within this partnership to ensure investment continues in our regional energy assets and capabilities. 

New pastures for me in 2023…

At the end of January 2023, I will be leaving the North East LEP to join Northern Gas Networks (NGN) as their Strategy Manager – Energy Systems Transition.  I have enjoyed my time with North East LEP immensely but am excited by the challenge of a new role and future with NGN.  Having led the North East Energy Catalyst for just over three years, I am proud of the level of investment made to bolster our regional energy assets and capabilities. I have particularly enjoyed working with regional SMEs across the energy sector to help drive growth and development via the North East Energy Innovation Challenge Programme, delivering grants to the value of £200,000 with support from our partners, Innovation SuperNetwork. I also enjoyed working with our skills team and external contractors to strengthen the evidence base around the skills required to achieve net zero in our domestic sector. Net Zero targets are irrelevant without the skills required to deliver them! I’m proud of the evidence base our team and partners have collated on this important issue.    

It has been a privilege to take a front seat alongside great people doing great things; the level of innovation within the region is simply incredible. Across heat, power and transport, there are game-changing energy materials, digital technology, and products in development with some launching in 2023.  The North East Energy Catalyst has made real difference to our regional energy landscape, catalysing strategic partnerships via working groups and government-funded projects.   

I’d like to personally thank all those who have engaged with the North East Energy Catalyst over the last three years or so, it has been an incredible journey. 

Find out more about the North East Energy Catalyst here.

The North East Energy Catalyst is supported by ERDF.

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Funding awarded to develop new energy systems in the North East

Three North East SMEs have been awarded funding to develop new energy systems which will help organisations to reduce their carbon emissions.

Capability North East, Jumping Rivers and Smart Carbon Ltd have each been awarded £20,000 through the North East Energy Catalyst’s Energy Innovation Challenge, which supports businesses to bring new energy products to market.

This is in addition to £100,000 of funding which was awarded to five other SMEs in late 2020.

David Lynch, Energy Innovation Partnership Manager at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), said: “The North East excels in innovating, demonstrating and delivering new solutions which can help drive economic growth in the region while solving global energy challenges, such as the need to reduce carbon emissions.

“The Energy Innovation Challenge was designed to maximise on our region’s skills and expertise by using the insight of the North East Energy Catalyst – a partnership of the region’s leading energy innovation, demonstration and delivery capabilities – to create a series of challenges for SMEs which aimed to identify solutions to energy issues which can be scaled up nationally or globally.”

Capability North East received funding for its Genee platform – a system helps businesses, NGOs and public sector organisations to plan their Net Zero journey, monitoring and recording their sustainability progress over time.

Jumping Rivers’ Newcastle-based team is recognised internationally for helping global businesses, governments and SMEs to harness untapped value from their data. The team is developing a power cost system called ECODATA which can help major energy users such as campuses, schools and business centres understand their electricity tariffs, minimising costs and supporting the transition to a green energy system.

The third business to be awarded funding is Smartcarbon Ltd, which is developing a carbon calculator to meet the needs of multinational businesses and their entire supply chain.

Round three of the Energy Innovation Challenge is currently underway, with submissions from North East SMEs currently being assessed.

The North East Energy Catalyst is supported by ERDF and the Energy Innovation Challenge received grant funding from the government’s Local Growth Fund via the North East LEP.

Find out more about the North East Energy Catalyst.

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North East businesses awarded funding to develop new energy products

£100,000 of funding has been awarded to help five North East energy businesses bring new products to market.

The five SMEs all entered the Energy Innovation Challenge which was launched by the North East Energy Catalyst as a way of supporting businesses in the region to develop solutions to global energy challenges.

The five businesses awarded funding are DLAW Contractors, The Energy Workshop, Otaski Energy Solutions, Power Roll, and Solar Capture Technologies.

David Lynch, Energy Innovation Partnership Manager at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), explains: “The Energy Innovation Challenge is a rolling programme of challenges based around different themes. So in the first phase, we wanted to hear from people who could develop a product or service that can help to decarbonise the energy that we use in our homes and businesses.

The Energy Innovation Challenge is led by the North East Energy Catalyst, a partnership of the region’s leading energy sector organisations which aims to showcase the North East’s capabilities in developing solutions to the world’s energy challenges.

As well as funding, the five businesses receive business advice through the North East Growth Hub, and have already taken part in workshops on topics including marketing, business models and IP.

Sunderland-based DLAW Contractors is planning to manufacture photovoltaic-powered water filtration systems for use in rural communities. The new product has the potential to be exported worldwide, with manufacturing and supply chain based in the North East.

The Energy Workshop is a renewable energy consultancy which will use its funding to carry out a study to assess the potential of using hydrogen to fuel fleet vehicles and community energy projects in the North East.

Otaski Energy Solutions, which is based in Gateshead, put forward a proposal to develop a product which uses artificial intelligence to dim street lighting when it’s not in use.

Sunderland SME Power Roll was awarded funding to work towards manufacturing a new type of solar panel which can be used on building and vehicles.

The fifth business awarded funding is Blyth’s Solar Capture Technologies, which will be stepping up production of its lightweight SolarFace modules, which can generate energy in low light levels and in a range of locations.

“The standard of entries into the challenge was exceptional, and really shows that the North East is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to developing innovative energy products,” said David Lynch. “With the recent unveiling of the government’s 10-point plan to create a green industrial revolution, businesses in our region are at the forefront of leading the way into a greener future economy, and the North East Energy Catalyst is here to support them.”

Round two of the Energy Innovation Challenge is currently underway, with 10 submissions from North East SMEs. Round three, on the theme of energy materials, will open in January 2021. To find out more, contact David Lynch on [email protected].

The North East Energy Catalyst is supported by ERDF and the Energy Innovation Challenge received grant funding from the government’s Local Growth Fund via the North East LEP.

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Investment on offer to help SMEs develop tech solutions to energy challenges

Up to £40,000 of investment is on offer to SMEs in the North East who can put forward digital or data-led solutions to help monitor and manage energy consumption.

The Energy Innovation Challenge is led by the North East Energy Catalyst, a partnership of leading energy sector organisations which aims to develop solutions to global energy challenges here in the North East.

David Lynch, Innovation Partnership Manager at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) who supports the work of the Energy Catalyst, explained: “Working with the North East Energy Catalyst is a unique opportunity for innovative SMEs given the strength and breadth of this region’s energy sector, which includes leaders in energy businesses, science and research and key infrastructure organisations.”

“We’re excited to be launching a series of energy innovation challenges throughout 2020 and 2021, inviting SMEs within the North East LEP area to submit responses to each challenge.”

A cohort of up to 10 successful businesses per challenge will be identified by an expert panel, drawing on the North East Energy Catalyst partners’ expertise. The successful cohort will receive a programme of support which will help them develop their idea and bring it to market.

This will include £20,000 of investment from Northstar Ventures, subject to eligibility criteria, which will be offered to 10 businesses across the programme, and the opportunity to submit matched grant applications for Local Growth Funding of up to a further £20k.

The next challenge is open for applications until noon on 18 September 2020 and SMEs are invited to put forward data or digital-led solutions that can help businesses to track energy consumption, or that can be used at sites like airports, ports and business parks to help manage energy savings.

David Lynch added: “This is an exciting opportunity for our colleagues in the digital, tech and energy sectors to take the lead on a new wave of energy solutions.

“The North East has a strong pedigree of innovation in power and energy generation, from steam, to electricity and now sustainable technologies, each of which has made a significant impact in the international economy. We are a force to be reckoned with in the energy sector and this is a great opportunity for digital and tech businesses to engage with partners working on the global energy stage.”

The North East Energy Catalyst is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the Catalysing Innovation in North East Clusters project, delivered by the Innovation SuperNetwork

More details about the challenge are available here or from David Lynch on [email protected].

The North East Energy Catalyst is a ground-breaking partnership to unite the North East’s leading energy innovation, demonstration and delivery capabilities. Facilitated by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), North East Energy Catalyst partners are: Newcastle University; Durham University; Northumbria University; Zero Carbon Futures (a subsidiary of Gateshead College); Northern Powergrid; Northern Gas Networks; The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult; The British Engines Group; Innovation SuperNetwork; Northumbrian Water; The North of Tyne Combined Authority; The North East Combined Authority.

   

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Showcasing clean energy innovation across the Northern Powerhouse

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is a sponsor of the Energy and Clean Growth in the Northern Powerhouse event – a major, two-day event to showcase the innovation, leadership and opportunities across the North of England in energy, decarbonisation, transition and clean growth.

Andrew Clark, Energy Programme Lead at the North East LEP, talks about the role the North has to play in the clean energy revolution.

Next week I’ll be attending the Northern Powerhouse Energy and Clean Growth conference, along with the Chair of the North East LEP, Andrew Hodgson, and various North East partners including those from the newly formed North East Energy Catalyst.

The Northern Powerhouse has long been the engine room of the UK and today, the region is poised to lead the transition to clean energy. The North also has a critical role to play in responding to new demands which are being placed on the country’s energy systems and infrastructure, and new innovations and intelligence in response to these.

Here in the North East, the energy sector is embedded in the fabric of our region. It’s a key part of our regional economy and our North East Energy for Growth strategy lays out how partners in the region are coming together to deliver on national energy strategy and drive economic growth.

Next week’s conference aims to showcase some of the innovation and opportunities across the Northern Powerhouse when it comes to decarbonisation and the transition to clean growth. As part of this, we will be sharing details of the North East Energy Catalyst and explaining how this new partnership has been formed to showcase solutions to global energy challenges in the North East, and to catalyse an integrated energy system which grows a productive and clean economy.

The Catalyst includes partners from industry, academia, the public sector and government bodies and we’re excited at what we can achieve by bringing together our energy innovation, demonstration and delivery assets in this way.

The energy sector has a crucial role to play in the future of the Northern Powerhouse, allowing the region to contribute to the national agenda, creating more and better jobs, and allowing the North to prosper.

I’m looking forward to forming new collaborations across the Northern Powerhouse region and to exploring how we can make our North East energy infrastructure and assets, like those brought together through the North East Energy Catalyst, available to the wider North and the rest of the UK.

Andrew Clark, Energy Programme Lead, North East LEP.

Energy and Clean Growth in the Northern Powerhouse takes place on 5 and 6 November in Hull. Find out more.

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North East Energy Catalyst ready to deliver on global challenges

A ground-breaking new partnership has been established to unite the North East’s leading energy innovation, demonstration and delivery capabilities, in order to drive new opportunities and growth for the region.

The North East is home to an array of internationally-recognised energy innovation, demonstration and science assets, and a wide range of ‘real-world’ follow-on delivery opportunities. These are owned by the public sector, universities, government bodies, and businesses already developing and delivering important products and services within the energy sector.

These partners have now joined forces to form the North East Energy Catalyst, with a mission of catalysing an integrated energy system which grows a productive, clean economy for prosperous communities. The initiative aims to co-ordinate North East energy innovation, demonstration and delivery capabilities, both onshore and offshore, to develop and showcase solutions to global energy challenges.

Energy Catalyst partners will work together on projects which tackle these major energy challenges, delivering on national energy, industrial, and clean growth strategy, whilst also supporting efforts to drive decarbonisation and economic growth in the region.

The Catalyst will invite and co-ordinate engagement with industry and business, promoting opportunities available in the North East to diversify, commercialise new solutions, and to deliver regional growth and employment across the energy sector.

The partnership includes Newcastle University; Durham University; Northumbria University; Zero Carbon Futures (a subsidiary of Gateshead College); Northern Powergrid; Northern Gas Networks; the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult which has test facilities at Blyth; the British Engines Group; the Innovation SuperNetwork; Northumbrian Water; the North of Tyne Combined Authority; and the North East Combined Authority. It is facilitated by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Andrew Clark, North East LEP Energy Programme Lead, said: “We are delighted to be a founding partner of the North East Energy Catalyst, an initiative which builds on our region’s position at the heart of the UK’s energy industry.

“The region has a unique and comprehensive asset base for innovating, demonstrating and delivering solutions to global energy challenges working both onshore and offshore.

“We also host a highly innovative business base at the cutting edge of developing and commercialising these solutions, presenting significant growth potential and new economic opportunities for places across our region.

“The North East Energy Catalyst brings these assets together in this exciting new partnership to showcase our critical role in this global agenda.”

The initiative follows the identification of energy innovation and demonstration as a key theme within North East LEP’s new Energy for Growth strategy, which aims to drive economic growth in the North East while also bringing sector partners together to deliver on national energy strategy.

Energy was identified as an area of key importance in the North East Strategic Economic Plan, with the potential to bring investment and jobs to our region.

Read more about the North East Energy Catalyst here. For more information, contact [email protected].