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Tees Valley has huge ambitions – to become the world’s first Net Zero industrial cluster by 2040. Being home to one of the biggest industrial clusters in Europe, it is an obvious location to lead the UK’s net zero vision.
The region produces more than 50% of the UK’s hydrogen, and is home to the UK’s first Hydrogen Transport Hub, as well as two huge “blue” hydrogen projects – bp’s H2Teesside and Kellas’ H2NorthEast – in which hydrogen is created from natural gas. Protium is also developing a flagship green hydrogen project, where the hydrogen is created from clean, renewable resources.
EDF Renewables UK has also become the latest company to announce plans for a green hydrogen production centre in the area. This will use the green electricity from the Teesside Offshore Wind Farm along with a new solar farm, which EDF Renewables UK intends to construct near Redcar, to power its hydrogen electrolyser.
We’ve previously highlighted all of the biggest low carbon projects taking place at Teesworks. But there are so many more businesses forging ahead in innovation, supported by critical research and development organisations, to bring the green careers of the future.
As electric vehicles get ever more popular in the drive away from fossil fuels, lithium batteries are becoming increasingly important. A lithium refinery plant, the first large scale facility in the UK, is set to come to Teesside thanks to Green Lithium. Set to open in 2027, more than 1,000 jobs will be created during construction, with about 250 more coming when operational.
And Tees Valley Lithium – Europe’s largest independent and sustainable lithium hydroxide producer – has earmarked the region for its £200million processing plant to supply critical metals to the EV battery market, bringing 250 jobs. Finally, to recycle used EV batteries, clean technology group Altillium is also planning the UK’s largest recycling facility in the region too.
SABIC is to restart its hydrocarbon cracker, the second largest in Europe, which breaks down hydrocarbons to produce chemicals such as ethylene, propylene and butadiene. A £850million investment would see it converted to run on hydrogen in its second phase, safeguarding and creating up to 1,000 jobs. A second phase will see it converted to run on hydrogen.
Local firm Nova Pangaea Technologies has now signed agreements with Sembcorp Energy UK for a plot at Wilton International for the “UK’s first bioethanol facility of its type”. This bioethanol can be fermented to sustainable aviation fuel to help decarbonise the aviation sector.
Also at Wilton International, Sembcorp is bringing Europe’s largest battery, a 360mw energy storage system, which will create 70 jobs and help the UK meet its net zero targets.
These are all being supported by the likes of the Materials Processing Institute, Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre, Industrial Digitalisation Technology Centre, TWI, CPI and more in research, innovation, collaboration and development.
But for those looking for a leg-up into the Net Zero sector, Teesworks Skills Academy is helping local people like you secure these new roles, giving them the expertise they need to succeed.
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