Newcastle is playing a global leadership role in the drive towards net zero, with the anchor institutions of the city all committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
The North East has the highest concentration of energy-related companies of any English region, with 7,600 people employed in over 700 businesses. Together, these companies generate an annual turnover of £2.7bn in the low carbon economy. Newcastle is the major city hub for the energy sector with 266 businesses located in the city, including Siemens Energy, Baker Hughes and TechnipFMC.
Many of these businesses are located at Shepherd Offshore, which has been operating on Newcastle Quayside for over 40 years, serving as a major strategic asset boasting 200 acres of bespoke facilities to world class manufacturing clusters.
The city is at the forefront of the green energy transition, identified by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) as a High Potential Opportunity (HPO) for heat decarbonisation, owing to the £500 million pipeline of heat networks planned across the region.
Newcastle is a research intensive city hosting many national research centres which tackle challenges in the decarbonisation of energy systems, including the National Centre for Energy Systems Integration (CESI), the North East Centre for Energy Materials (NECEM), and Northumbria University’s Energy Futures research community. Results from the Research Excellence Framework (REF2021) revealed that the North East has the strongest team of researchers of any region outside of London.
The region boasts five universities, with four ranking in the Times Higher Education Ranking 2022. Almost 10,000 students study engineering and technology subjects, the highest proportion of any UK region. This extensive research and education base provides the necessary pipeline for the clean energy transition.
Newcastle has also been recognised by international climate research, CDP, as one of the world’s leading cities for tackling climate change, achieving the top ‘A’ grade status in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Newcastle City Council, Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have all committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030, demonstrating the city-wide commitment to powering a greener future.
North East England is a High Potential Opportunity for heat decarbonisation.
The Centre of Excellence for Marine Hydrodynamics, Coatings and Material opened by Newcastle University in 2016.
Access to three deep sea ports in Newcastle city area.
Energy-related businesses generate an annual turnover of £2.7 billion in the North East Low Carbon Economy.
Sub Sectors
Take a look at the energy and sustainability clusters driving growth in Newcastle.
Offshore Wind
Dogger Bank Wind Farm is the world’s largest offshore wind farm located more than 130km off the North East coast of England.
Heat Decarbonisation
North East England is a High Potential Opportunity for Heat Decarbonisation, with a high concentration of low carbon heat networks under development across the region.
Clean Technology
Newcastle is home to many companies that are developing sustainable energy solutions across key low carbon sectors such as electric vehicles and offshore wind.
Subsea Innovation
North East England is the largest cluster of underwater engineering and manufacturing for the offshore wind and oil and gas industries in England, comprises around 50 supply chain companies and supports 15,000 jobs
Who’s here
Infrastructure
Explore the assets local companies are using to power innovation.
Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
The £150 million ORE Catapult’s National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth, Northumberland houses world-leading testing and validation facilities.
Newcastle University
Newcastle University is home to one of the largest marine technology groups in the world and provides degree apprenticeships in power engineering, a large suite of undergraduate engineering degrees, and masters courses in the likes of Offshore Engineering and Renewable Energy. The university also leads the National Centre for Energy Systems Integration and the National Centre for Subsea and Offshore Engineering.
Northumbria University
Northumbria University offers courses in Electrical Power Engineering (MSc), and Renewable and Sustainable Energy Technologies (MSc) and was ranked in the top 250 for engineering in the Times Higher Education’s World University subject rankings 2022.
Tyne Pressure Testing
A specialist hyperbaric testing, certification and research facility, Tyne Pressure Testing offer unique chambers to allow testing for deep-water equipment at a range of pressure ratings, orientations and temperatures.
National Centre for Energy Systems Integration (CESI)
CESI is a £20 million multi-institutional, multi-discipline industrial research consortium investigating the future energy challenges for the UK. Led by Newcastle University and partnering with other UK universities such as Durham University.
Integrated Transport, Electricity and Gas Research Laboratory (InTEGReL)
InTEGReL, in Gateshead, is the UK’s first full-scale integrated energy systems R&D facility. Led by Northern Gas Networks and working with Northern Powergrid and Newcastle University, InTEGReL provides space for industry, academia, SMEs and government to explore and test new energy technologies.
Urban Observatory
Based on Newcastle Helix, the Urban Observatory is home to the UK’s largest source of urban open data which deploys more than 1,000 sensors across Newcastle and Gateshead, measures over 60 environmental indicators from air quality and flooding to biodiversity and makes 2,000 observations every minute.
Zero Carbon Futures
Zero Carbon Futures UK aims to research and develop new technologies as low carbon vehicles become a major part of the world’s transport systems.
Newcastle College
The Newcastle College Energy Academy provides a centre of innovation, training and development for the energy sector delivering qualifications from level two through to degree level in energy technologies, manufacturing and maintenance as well as apprenticeships.
Port of Tyne
Port of Tyne is a vital maritime gateway on the North Sea coast, serving the world’s largest wind farm at Dogger Bank and acting as a strategic hub for international trade and commerce.
Shepherd Offshore
Shepherd Offshore is a prominent player in the offshore, subsea, and renewables sectors, leveraging its strategic location along the River Tyne to provide essential services and facilities to support industry operations and innovation.
Key partners
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