Key Projects

The Humber already has solid credentials around decarbonisation and the work we continue as part of the Energy Estuary 2.0 can help transform the way the world uses energy, whilst fuelling inclusive growth in the region.

The projects created by the Energy Estuary 2.0 will help the Humber lead the fight against climate change. Below is an overview of some of the Energy Estuary 2.0 projects.

A new way to harness energy from waste

We are working to develop a ‘clean’ fuel pellet derived from both consumer and business waste. This could change the way we think and use non-recyclable plastics and other waste materials, creating energy as a fuel that can be physically stored and used for heat production or converted to electricity.

The Humber could be a manufacturing hub for this type of pellet production.

Growing a green hydrogen economy

Green hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources, could be made and stored in the Humber region. This would present new ways to decarbonise a variety of sectors and transform how large energy intensive industries power their operation, transforming productivity in the Humber and significantly reducing our carbon output.

Green hydrogen could become a key local energy source, distributed to community assets such as hospitals and schools, powering them alongside small business parks or future local energy grids.

Community power stations

A multi-source localised energy station could take
advantage of local renewable energy generation, heat from industry and waste and biomass to provide peak power, local heating and cooling. This adds value to the planned district heating initiatives of local councils, minimising the risk of their investment whilst engaging communities.

A station such as this could be the first ever integrated system that solves heating, cooling and electricity supply through one power station, transforming the way we generate and consume energy.

A new way to utilise carbon

A new type of carbon utilisation machine could transform the way we capture and use carbon as part of the same process. Unlike major schemes which aim to capture and store the carbon, the technology we’re helping to develop in the Humber makes the process more efficient by having a direct use of the carbon that is captured, converting it into a range of useable products for the construction industry.

Innovation in Offshore Wind

The Humber is home to the world’s largest offshore wind farm, and there are plans in place for further significant expansion of this capability. The University is working with leading organisations in this sector to understand the needs of operatives who work on these farms on a daily basis, and are exploring virtual and mixed reality methods for use of inspection drones, innovative training methods and remote operations