Key facts

    • North East England is recognised as having deeper roots in energy science and engineering than any other region in the world.
    • 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 and Northumbria Design School. All of these elements provide a unique UK test bed for new energy technologies and services.
    • 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.
    • The sector has the potential to generate around £2bn of new economic growth for the region's economy.
    • The Newcastle University, Sir Joseph Swan Institute for Energy Research, is housed in the award winning Devonshire Building, a flagship environmental building, adopting the highest standards of sustainable design, which since its completion has won several prestigious awards for environmental architecture and construction.
    • Newcastle University is world-leading in fuel cell research
    • Dyson have a research base at Newcastle University
    • Newcastle University is home to Europe's leading transport technology research centre at the forefront of research into sustainable rail, road and marine transport
    • 2009 saw the mass production of electric cars in the UK begin at Nissan including a new electric battery plant, the initial research in these areas was driven by Newcastle University
    • North East England is a key player in the largest programme of real-world trials of electric vehicles
    • Newcastle was named the UK’s most sustainable city in Forum for the Future’s annual Sustainable Cities Index for the second year running in 2011