The Energy for Growth strategy focuses on three areas where the North East has particular strengths:

  • Innovation and demonstration
  • Regional energy
  • And growth sectors (offshore energy, low carbon heat and electric vehicles and batteries).

By working with partners to build a pipeline of projects in each of these areas, we will accelerate economic growth in the North East, while delivering projects that will benefit communities throughout the UK and beyond.

Our Energy for Growth Strategy was developed as part of the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s Local Energy Programme. Through this programme the North East LEP is part of the North East and Yorkshire Energy Hub, where we work with other regional LEPs, and the wider Hub network, to collaborate on energy policy and projects.

Energy innovation and demonstration

The North East is the best place to test new energy innovations in the UK.

The North East Energy Catalyst unites the region’s energy innovation and demonstration organisations, making it easy for SMEs, investors and government to access them.

Regional energy

The North East LEP is accelerating regional energy projects by bringing together local authorities, identifying region-wide opportunities and providing expert staff time and grant funding.

We’re leading the national drive to use mine energy – geothermal heat from former coal mines – as a low carbon heat source, and a living lab investigating the potential of mine energy will be established in Gateshead by the Coal Authority.

Subsea and Offshore Energy

The North East’s offshore energy and subsea technology cluster is nationally and globally recognised, the region is also understood as an international centre for R&D and skills.

The region stands to benefit from both new and existing global market opportunities across the blue economy and offshore renewables and is identified as a key cluster for delivery of the offshore wind sector deal specifically. Supporting employment, competitiveness and productivity in this sector is a strategic energy opportunity for the North East.