Teesside and Durham universities unite to look for £7bn boost

Researchers from both universities will work on the ambitious four-year project aimed at growing Teesside’s hydrogen economy and supporting the transition to net zero.

The project is led by Teesside University and funded with £4.8m from the Research England Development (RED) Fund, part of UK Research and Innovation, as well as funding from Teesside University, Durham University and industrial partners.

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The Tees Valley is responsible for almost 50% of the UK’s production of hydrogen and innovation in this sector is predicted to be a huge driver of economic growth in the region. In 2018, a report by KPMG found that exploiting the opportunities of the hydrogen economy could add up to £7 billion to the Tees Valley economy by 2050 and create up to 1,000 high-value-added jobs.

The forthcoming launch of its £16.4 million Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre will further accelerate this rich history of industry engaged research and innovation by providing facilities and expertise for scaling-up collaborative activity between the University and a growing network of industry partners.

Durham University’s contribution is led by the Durham Energy Institute (DEI). The DEI is a hub for multidisciplinary energy research and is at the forefront of the national and international research effort in the production, storage, distribution and utilisation of hydrogen.

Professor Stephen Cummings (Image: Press release)

DEI works on a wide range of government, EU, and industrial funded projects, including leading three Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded networks on hydrogen fuelled transportation; decarbonisation of heating and cooling; and equality, diversity and inclusion in energy research.

Durham Energy Institute is already providing its expertise to the Teesside Industrial Cluster as well as working with a team of academics from Teesside University on two collaborative research projects as part of the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre, a UK Research and Innovation-funded programme to support decarbonisation in the UK’s industrial heartlands.

This new joint research project will combine the research strengths of Teesside and Durham Universities and bring together a large cohort of industrial and policy research fellows who will work together with industrial partners to identify challenges and develop innovative solutions to overcome them.

Professor Stephen Cummings Professor Stephen Cummings, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at Teesside University, said: “As an anchor institution we are proud of our ability to engage with regional partners and drive forward prosperity. This ambitious project aligns perfectly with our research strategy by helping to deliver a smooth transition to decarbonisation, ensuring that all members of our society are able to benefit from the move to net zero.”

Colin Bain Professor Colin Bain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Durham University, added: “This project is another good example of the universities of the North-East working together to tackle regional and national challenges and to drive social and economic renewal in the North East.”

Professor Nashwan Dawood Professor Nashwan Dawood, Associate Dean (Research & Innovation) and Lead Investigator at Teesside University, said: “The outcomes from this project are set to make a real impact on the economy of the Tees Valley, as well as driving global change through the increased uptake and adoption of hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels."

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