Read highlights from NEPIC´s Clean Growth Conference

July 6th 2023

On 20 June 2023 at Hardwick Hall Hotel, NEPIC hosted their annual Clean Growth Conference. With more than 175 delegates in attendance, the day was packed full of insightful presentations on Net Zero and emerging decarbonisation technologies.

Sponsored by bp, Sembcorp, Appleyard Lees and NRL, the conference was opened by NEPIC's head of technical, Ryan Siddall. Ryan introduced first speakers Francesco De Leonardis & Will Harrison-Cripps of bp, who gave an update on bp’s H2Teesside project and explained why Teesside was perfectly placed for the hydrogen pipeline and how it is a great test bed for the wider economy.

Dr Graham Hillier from CPI addressed climate change through resource efficiency, explaining how the rise in life expectancy is directly linked to increased Co2 in the atmosphere: “New technology is only partially the answer, but by improving efficiency in our industry there is a significant opportunity to reduce carbon emissions.”

Chris Rowell of Tees Valley Combined Authority stressed how Net Zero is at the highest priority of the authority and Eliza Dwyer of Nova Pangaea Technologies who explained their innovative Novachar and Refnova processes.

Mark Devine of Sembcorp highlighted why companies should invest in the Wilton International site, explaining how it is positioned within a hub of innovative decarbonisation activity, making it perfect for future clean growth opportunities.

During the day delegates enjoyed visiting exhibitors who included: Sembcorp Energy, bp, Beamex, Evides Industriewater, Frazer-Nash Consultancy, Wave, Imperial Recruitment Group, Johnson Procurement Solutions (JPS), NRL, Tees Valley Combined Authority, TWI, Veolia, Wolviston Management Services, AXIOM, Hazchem Safety, TransFIRe Hub and Filcom Filterservice.

NEPIC's innovation executive, Abigail Bell opened the second session, with speakers Emma Johnston of Frazer-Nash Consultancy, who discussed how they advised on the Tees Valley Cluster Plan, and Oyinda Gunn of Axiom who highlighted the risks of working with hydrogen and the safety measures that can be put in place.

Christopher Mason of Appleyard Lees shared findings from their Inside Green Innovation: Progress Report pointing out that green hydrogen patents approached 200 in 2020 – doubling the previous 18 years in just two years, with Europe showing strongest growth.

Then followed an insightful panel discussion hosted by Ryan featuring, Chris Beck of Arup, James Prime of Turner and Townsend, Dr Nashwan Dawood of NZIIC and Sarah Daun of Womble Bond Dickinson.

After a delicious lunch from Hardwick Hall, NEPIC's sustainability executive, Chris Crooks, welcomed Jack Bottomley of Northern Endurance Partnership to the stage. Jack explained the ambitions for cO2 stores for the East Coast Cluster expansion, stating: “The project will need to be delivered through support of the region, utilising Teesside’s craft and workforce.”

Dr Linsey Fuller explained the Flue2Chem project which aims to find alternative carbon sources for manufacturing consumer goods, discussing the consortium of businesses involved she said: “It’s promising that this competitor collaboration shows a unified drive within industry to bring about positive change.”

Delegates then heard from Tim Sutherland of Circular Fuels who discussed how they are addressing the decarbonisation of LPG, followed by James Watt of WSP who stressed how they key to the future of the clusters was to ensure the development of non-cluster areas.

Steve Coates of X-Energy discussed the organisation’s nuclear contribution to clean growth and ambitions for Teesside and beyond before drawing the conference to a close.

NEPIC thanks all those involved once again, their next event will be the highly anticipated Meet the Members! Back for a new venue in 2023, you can find all the information you need here.