Business and Region
North East England has deeper roots in energy science and engineering than any other region in the world. The unique geographical circumstances of two navigable rivers penetrating a major coalfield meant that the first global fossil fuel export industry was already established here by the end of the 16th Century.
Growing Economy
The North East is enjoying a rapidly growing economy and is now consistently growing faster than the UK as a whole. It is rated as having one of the highest quality of life indices in the UK.
The renewed growth is driven to a great extent by significant investment in new energy and process industry infrastructure, including major bioenergy, carbon capture and renewables projects.
Facilities
The region is home to the UK's most energy intensive industries in the Tees Valley, and hosts unique translational research and design facilities, most notably, NaREC, CPI, Newcastle University's Resource Centre for Innovation in Design (RCID) and Northumbria Design School. It continues to have significant pockets of fuel poverty. All of these elements provide a unique UK test bed for new energy technologies and services.
Investment
One NorthEast (ONE) has identified energy as one of three key areas for development over the next 20 years, with the potential to generate around £2bn of new economic growth for the region's economy. Already estimated to be worth around £900m, the energy sector is also one of the most productive sectors in the region, employing around 30,000 people and with more than £6bn currently being invested in novel energy projects over the next few years. ONE has invested over £100m in recent years and public sector investment will continue; ONE has committed a further £100m of public funds to energy R&D over the next five years.
Find out more about Newcastle and surrounding areas.
