Looking to the future
Some of the exciting ‘blue sky’ initiatives which are well underway in the region include:
Carbon capture
The region is now on the cusp of developing the world’s first regional network for CO2 capture-and-storage: presaged by the recent announcements by RWE npower and Centrica of more than £3bn investment in two coal-fired power stations designed for CCS, with storage beneath the North Sea.
Hydrogen fuel cells
Teesside has the largest existing hydrogen system in the UK – ideal feedstock to CPI’s fuel cell development. CPI recently lit the first lighthouse in the UK using a single fuel cell.
Energy from waste
Graphite Resources Ltd, a waste management company set up by Michael and William Thompson in 2003, plans to build one of the world’s largest steam autoclave waste treatment and recycling plant on the banks of the river Tyne in Gateshead. Derwenthaugh EcoParc will be one of the first of its type in the UK and the first in the North East.
Eastgate Eco Village
The planning application is now well underway to create a renewable energy village which will produce enough energy from renewable sources, to include a biomass power station, equivalent to powering every property in the vale.
Geothermal energy
The region boasts the first deep geothermal borehole in the UK in 20 years (designed and implemented in 2004-2006 by Newcastle University and PB Power), which forms the centrepiece for the UK's first renewable energy model village.
As part of plans for the GREAT Institute, the project team which includes ONE, Newcastle University and Easington District Council intends to have a fully functional geothermal power source up and running by 2012 – 100 years after the technology to derive power from geothermal sources was invented in the county.
Coal Gasification
With 75% or reserves still remaining under the North Sea, new technology developed by scientists from Newcastle University looks to have secured a new future for the fossil fuel. A consortium led by Newcastle Science City is currently exploring the commercial possibilities for coal gasification, along with plans for carbon capture to utilise empty underground oil reservoirs and coal mines.
New technology development
North East England has a world-class reputation for the research, development and deployment of new technologies across the wide ranging energy sector. Reflecting the area’s industrial strengths, our universities and independent technology transfer centres have developed complementary, inter-locking skill sets and facilities.
Guided by the newly formed Energy Research North East England (ERNEE) partnership these form an integrated and comprehensive RD&D capability of international repute covering the areas of:
- Large-Scale Energy Supply Technologies
- Carbon capture and storage (CCS)
- Energy Security of Supply
- End Use Efficiency/Demand Management
- Transport
- Small Scale Energy Supply Technologies
- Support Infrastructures
- Alleviating Energy Poverty