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On 18 June 2024 at Hardwick Hall Hotel, we hosted our annual Clean Growth Conference. With more than 150 delegates in attendance, the day was packed full of insightful presentations on Net Zero and emerging decarbonisation technologies.

Sponsored by AESSEAL, Appleyard Lees and Wave, the conference was opened by our interim CEO, Joanne Fryett and innovation executive, Abigail Bell. Abigail introduced the first speaker of the day, Alasdair Conn, global technical specialist at AESSEAL, who discussed their zero-emission sealing solution, EcoGuard, which is a recycle compressor that prevents greenhouse gases from dry gas seals reaching the atmosphere.

Paul Beynon, patent attorney at Appleyard Lees then provided an update on their latest ‘Inside Green Innovation: Progress Report’, highlighting how there has been a huge spike in green hydrogen innovation since 2015, directly mirrored by hydrogen storage technologies.

We then heard from Scott Wallis, emissions manager at Score Group who discussed their collaboration with fellow NEPIC member, asset55, on creating their ‘Emissions Elimination Program’, which detects and mitigates emission sources whilst monitoring environmental performance and maintenance activities.

Oli Shelley, head of water efficiency services at Wave then emphasised the importance of adapting to climate changes that are already occurring, as well continuing to carry out mitigation efforts, in order to ensure there are continuous water supplies in the future.

Throughout the day delegates enjoyed visiting our exhibitors who included: AESSEAL, Emerson, Wave, Addison Project, Sembcorp, Score Group, Heliex Power, Frazer-Nash Consultancy, Evides Industriewater, Victaulic, Compliant, AXIOM, Veolia Water Technologies, IPS Flow Systems, storeCO2, JBA Engineering, On-site Energy, Laker Vent Engineering, IChemE, Trident Utilities, Middlesbrough College and Newcastle University.

During the second session of the day we heard from Dr Lucy Smith, head of transformation at the Materials Processing Institute who was discussing their recent project, funded by Innovate UK, ‘FIVe – Foundation Industries Ventures’ which is in the early stages of providing a process for university spinouts across the cement, metals, chemicals, ceramics, and glass industries to scale up.

Followed by Professor Adam Harvey of Newcastle University who explained more about the new Process Industries: Net Zero (PINZ) Centre for Doctoral Training, which aims to supply industry-ready process engineers through PhD training programmes to aid the Net Zero transition by working with industrial partners on co-created research projects.

We then heard from Andrew Smallbone, associate professor at Durham University. Andrew described the continuing industrial decarbonisation activities at the University and provided case studies of the recent projects undertaken.

It was then time for our Quick-fire Innovation Round, featuring Ben Lester, business development manager at Sterling Pharma Solutions, David Hughes, chairman at Catalsys, Kevin Graham, head of sales at Heliex Power and Peter Ginn, executive vice president at storeCO2. After which the speakers were called back to the stage for a panel discussion for questions from delegates.

After a delicious lunch from Hardwick Hall, we opened our third where our head of technical, Ryan Siddall explained about NEPIC’s chemical mapping and sustainable olefins projects, plus our upcoming Meet the Members Expo. Ryan then welcomed Philip Gardner, mechanical engineer at AXIOM to the stage. Philip explained the potential to re-purpose pressure equipment for hydrogen.

Up next was Henry Story, project developer hydrogen and circular economy at Exolum who presented on Exolum’s plans for Tees Valley, where they are going to construct a green hydrogen production plant and refuelling station in Stockton-on-Tees as part of the Tees Valley Hydrogen Vehicle Ecosystem project.

Delegates then heard from Chris Verity, hydrogen senior projects manager at Northern Gas Networks, who explained the business’ East Coast Hydrogen partnership with National Gas and Cadent that is helping to decarbonise industry by hoping to connect planned hydrogen production and storage with industrial users in the region, over the next 15 years.

Daren Smith, chairperson of the Industrial Net Zero Leadership Group then explained how the group has been formed to help deliver the Tees Valley Cluster Plan so the region can achieve its Net Zero industrial cluster 2024 target.

Drawing our conference to a close was Tees Valley Combined Authority’s head of Net Zero, Chris Rowell who reported on TVCA’s latest activities in hydrogen, renewable energy and carbon capture and storage (CCUS), to achieve a Net Zero future in the region.

It was great to hear feedback throughout the day, with NEPIC member Koso Kent Introl stating:  

“Another excellent NEPIC event, bringing together regional industry leaders and engaging with supply chains and discussing technical challenges and opportunities in the clean growth sector.”

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank those involved once again, our next event will be our highly anticipated Meet the Members! Back at Hardwick Hall’s Grand Marquee on 24 September 2024, you can find all the information you need here.