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Key takeaways from the North East Energy Catalyst Summit

“This region is unique. We have everything. The challenge for us as a region is how to take that gift and grow it and multiply it.” Professor Colin Herron of Zero Carbon Futures.

Earlier this week, more than 100 North East organisations came together at the North East Energy Catalyst Summit to explore opportunities that COP26 and the drive to reach Net Zero could bring to our region (you can watch a video of the event here).  

So, what were the key points which emerged during the Summit that can help our energy sector businesses to grow? David Lynch, the North East LEP’s Energy Innovation Partnership Manager, gives a summary.

Attracting investment

At the event we heard three different perspectives on investing in the North East. Tom Nightingale from Equinor gave an update on the development of the world’s largest wind farm at Dogger Bank. Components for the wind farm are being tested at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult in Blyth and the operations and maintenance base will be at the Port of Tyne.

Neil Spann, CEO of Power Roll, explained how the businesses is expanding its capabilities in the region with a new facility in County Durham, as it develops new ways to generate solar energy.

And we were absolutely delighted when Richard Blackwell from CrowdHouse Energy announced at the summit a commitment to invest in the North East with plans to create a manufacturing facility in the region as the business prepares to take its new Helios Volt technology around the world.  Why did they choose this region? Because his company was met with “delirious enthusiasm” – that’s what sets up apart! 

What all three investors have in common is an appreciation of the skills and track record our region has when it comes to energy innovation, our assets and infrastructure, and the joined-up approach and enthusiasm we have for driving forward our energy sector.  We’re making a significant contribution to carbon reduction – here in the North East.

Accelerating innovation and identifying opportunities

Many of our speakers talked about de-risking and accelerating new technologies, in turn creating new jobs and supply chain opportunities.

This is something we address through the North East Energy Catalyst’s challenge programme, which supports SMEs to develop and test new energy solutions. A new and exciting challenge will be launched in the next few weeks so sign up to our Energy for Growth newsletter and watch this space! .

The Energy Catalyst has recently commissioned a supply chain analysis which we’ll be able to share with you soon, identifying opportunities for supply chain investment in areas like green hydrogen, heat networks and heat pump manufacture.

Working together

The Energy Catalyst model has demonstrated that innovation works at its best when we bring businesses and academia together. We heard from Newcastle University, Northumbria University and Durham University about research into carbon reduction and the importance of taking a collaborative approach  to accelerate new technologies. 

Newly-formed partnerships like the North East Battery Alliance are raising awareness of the North East capabilities and, of course, the entire event was underpinned by the North East Energy Catalyst, whose members work together to showcase how the North East can accelerate decarbonisation through its innovation and demonstration assets.

Join us to drive future regional growth and investment across heat, power and transport. 

We need to make sure that, as a region, we are shouting loudly about what we can do here and making sure we can grab these opportunities. If you’re a business in the energy sector, I’d encourage you to be a part of this by: