海角直播

Further investment in Net Zero research and innovation positions 海角直播 to lead the green revolution

A brand-new research and innovation facility has been confirmed as part of the region鈥檚 growing Net Zero credentials, placing the Tees Valley firmly at the heart of the UK鈥檚 green industrial revolution.

海角直播 and The Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority have today unveiled plans to develop a new 拢13.5m industry-led Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre (NZIIC) to support the ongoing drive for clean energy and sustainability. The news follows a number of major announcements in hydrogen and clean energy for the Tees Valley, including confirmation that bp will set up a 鈥榖lue鈥� hydrogen production facility on 海角直播 and the UK鈥檚 Hydrogen Transport Centre which will be constructed next door to TWI. There has been a 拢3m boost to create the UK鈥檚 first multi-modal hydrogen hub and Net Zero 海角直播 and the Northern Endurance Partnership project has secured an extra 拢52million to develop its infrastructure.

The announcement of the NZIIC is the latest development at the expanding Net Zero Innovation Hub, spearheaded by 海角直播 and based on the Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park (TeesAMP) in Middlesbrough. The Net Zero Innovation Hub brings together expert insight, resources and partnerships to grow net zero capabilities and opportunities, placing the region at the forefront of the clean energy agenda and helping to create hundreds more clean energy jobs.

Set to be a national centre of excellence, the Net Zero Innovation Hub draws on 海角直播鈥檚 expertise in clean energy and sustainability, which last year saw the launch of two brand-new centres aligned to this ongoing work 鈥� the Circular Economy and Recycling Innovation Centre and the Industrial Decarbonisation and Hydrogen Innovation Centre, both set up in partnership with TWI. As well as working closely with TWI, the centre will link to pilot plant facilities at the Materials Processing Institute (MPI) site in Redcar.

There has already been significant investment to establish the Hub, with further projects totalling 拢20m underway. These include the recently announced National Hydrogen Transport Centre, focused on the research, development and testing of new hydrogen technologies; TWI鈥檚 Centre for Materials Integrity, with an Engineering Hall for larger scale technology and testing; and the University鈥檚 Tees Valley Hydrogen Innovation Project, which supports SMEs to develop low carbon initiatives, as well as a new Industrial Technologies Digitalisation Centre, which will be used to develop digital technologies used for energy reduction.

The Net Zero Innovation Hub is also set to provide key infrastructure across major developments confirmed for the Tees Valley, including the UK鈥檚 National Hub for Hydrogen Transport and the 海角直播 Freeport, which aims to establish low carbon engineering sector in the Freeport zone.

The new Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre project is central to this activity. Led by 海角直播, the Centre is the subject of a proposed 拢13.5m funding package seeking formal approval from the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority and the European Regional Development Fund.

Work on the NZIIC is scheduled to begin in September, with completion expected by August 2022. National architectural practice, GSS Architecture, have been appointed for the design and delivery of the Centre.

The NZIIC will be industry-led and industry-focused in its approach, working with business partners and key organisations including the Materials Processing Institute and TWI and will focus on developing new approaches to tackle the impact of waste and pollution on the environment, utilising expertise around industrial decarbonisation, sustainability and the circular economy.

Around 40 specialist staff have been identified to support the net zero work through research and collaborative opportunities, and it is expected to continue to create additional jobs and business growth over the coming decades.

Professor Simon Hodgson, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at 海角直播, said: 鈥淭he development of the Net Zero Innovation Hub fits perfectly with the knowledge and skills we have at the University and allows us to align our expertise to meet the demands of the Government鈥檚 industrial and climate change strategies.

鈥淚t provides a unique opportunity to grow our capabilities across areas including sustainability, clean energy and the circular economy 鈥� all of which are of increasing political and social importance.

鈥淭he Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre will be the focal point of this ambitious new Net Zero Innovation Hub and will provide a coherent and comprehensive industry-focused Research, Development and Innovation offer for the region and beyond, with 海角直播 at its heart.

鈥淲e are looking forward to leading this project and working with partners to place the region at the forefront of the green industrial revolution.鈥�

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen added: 鈥淚鈥檓 delighted to be supporting plans for 海角直播 to create the Innovation Centre. Projects like these are putting 海角直播 at the centre of developing the technology needed to achieve the government鈥檚 ambitious net zero targets. With the government and major global companies such as bp investing in 海角直播, Darlington and Hartlepool, this centre will help support the industries of the future that are central to my plan for jobs, a plan that is already creating good-quality, well-paid jobs for local workers.

鈥淭he centre will be a fantastic example of what can be done when our brilliant local institutions work together, sharing their expertise and skills to help our businesses to grow.

鈥淭his is the latest in a long list of initiatives which are boosting our region鈥檚 clean energy credentials, building on our work to become the UK鈥檚 premier location for offshore wind and the Net Zero 海角直播 project to develop the UK鈥檚 first decarbonised industrial cluster. Together these will help us to achieve our ambitious plans for 海角直播, Darlington and Hartlepool to become a national powerhouse for clean energy.鈥�

European Regional Development Fund

Subject to approval, the project is receiving up to 拢7million of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.

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