8 million NZTC funding allocated to 20 low-carbon technology projects – Current News

8 million NZTC funding allocated to 20 low-carbon technology projects. Image: NZTC.

The Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) has allocated 8 million in funding to support the development of 20 low-carbon technology projects via its 2022 Open Innovation Programme.

The funding focuses on developing and deploying technologies that could reduce offshore emissions, accelerate clean energy production and enable the delivery of the UKs net zero ambitions.

The winning projects fall under seven focus areas, all of which aim to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission technologies and bridge the gap in costs. This includes:

1. Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)

2. Hydrogen and clean fuels

3. Renewables and energy storage

4. Zero-emissions power

5. Venting and flaring

6. Integrity management

7. Late life and decommissioning

Were at a pivotal point in the energy transition, with political and social pressures weighing as heavy as environmental demands. The technology ideas we received were diverse, credible and exciting, making the selection process tough, said Myrtle Dawes, solution centre director at the Net Zero Technology Centre.

There is no single solution to achieving net zero so nurturing innovation is key to establishing an integrated energy system. We are investing in the areas where we know technology gaps exist and where the opportunity is substantial in accelerating the energy transition.

NZTC also disclosed some of the winning projects and what they hope to achieve. This includes projects focusing on electrolyser technologies and materials to reduce the cost of green hydrogen by 60% - a key stumbling block in the hydrogen industry.

Another successful project will explore novel optical sensors to prevent corrosion in carbon capture and storage operations, supporting the UK to expand the CCS market, whereas another project will trial geothermal techniques in the field. The final referenced project will use liquid air battery innovations to accelerate an integrated energy system.

The low-carbon technologies were put through a selection process ensuring each supports the transition towards net zero, with an obligation of trialling and deploying technology within the UK continental shelf. This could drive innovation within the UKs low-carbon space.

In order to provide additional support to the winning projects, not only will they receive funding, but the technology developers also gain access to data, facilities and technology expertise from industry.

According to the NZTC, a total of 154 businesses from around the globe applied for a share of the funding with winning candidates able to secure a maximum of 1 million.

NZTC continues to expand, accelerate and support the growing low-carbon sector in the UK via funding and analysis. The organisation recently highlighted the need to back the creation of demonstration centres around the UK to drastically reduce the costs associated with low-carbon technologies.

Detailed within the Technology Driving Green Energy Growth report, the NZTC believes a range of technologies, which currently are expensive, could be reduced with further investment in technology and innovation. This could be vitally important for the UKs hydrogen, carbon capture storage and floating offshore wind sectors.

NZTC and the Cygnus JV and Sealand Projects identified four electrification options in early September for an offshore oil and gas asset to reduce emissions from its operation.

The Southern North Sea Oil and Gas Asset Electrification Study reviewed the possibility of electrifying an offshore platform with power from offshore wind using the Neptune Energy operated Cygnus platform in the UK Southern North Sea as a case study.

By 2030 the site will have 6.8GW of wind power within 50km of Cygnus, increasing to 14.1GW within 100km of the asset, making it a suitable case study for the investigation of electrification using offshore wind, NZTC said.

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8 million NZTC funding allocated to 20 low-carbon technology projects - Current News