North East Energy
- The North East is home to the UK’s largest offshore and marine industrial and manufacturing base, with capabilities and facilities for design, project management, fabrication, assembly, grid and installation
- The world’s first full size tidal stream generator, Stingray, was designed in Northumberland and built on Tyneside. Mayflower Energy’s pioneering vessel, the Mayflower Resolution is located in the North East.
- The New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) at Blyth is providing world class research and development facilities including a blade testing facility, power and connection and marine energy testing . The Centre is now home to the national Photovoltaic Technology Centre.
- Around 110 regional farmers have registered an interest in the supply of energy crops such as short rotation coppice for energy production.
- The region is also home to one the first UK wood pellet manufacturers in County Durham.
- A 30MW biomass fired power plant is currently under development in Middlesbrough.
- The region is also home to the UK’s first architectural photovoltaic module manufacturing company, Romag.
- The lights at Acklam Chapel of Remembrance, Teesside Crematorium, are powered by a fuel cell as part of Tees Valley’s commitment to developing the UK’s hydrogen technology.
- 2005 saw the national launch of the world’s first fuel cell powered motorcycle! Teesside-based CPI (Centre for Process Innovation) worked closely with the pioneering British team behind the project – Intelligent Energy.
- In 2005 Newcastle was awarded a ‘Science City’ status. Newcastle City Council, One NorthEast, and Newcastle University pledged to use the status to develop the city as a world-class location for knowledge-based business, by building on the region’s existing strengths in pioneering scientific research. The project will also develop collaborative activity from across the region, with other science and technology centres, including NaREC in Blyth.