£10 million funding competition launched to strengthen net-zero technologies

The £10 million ($13.1 million) 2022 Open Innovation Programme aims to develop and deploy net-zero technologies to accelerate clean energy production and reduce offshore emissions.

The competition is hosted by the Net Zero Technology Centre, which aims to develop and deploy technology to accelerate an affordable net-zero energy industry.

The 2022 programme will feature two competitions. The first opens on 16th March and the second is scheduled for October. Businesses from around the world can apply for a share of £7 million ($9.2 million) available in the first competition. A maximum of £1 million ($1.4 million) is to be awarded to each successful project.

Iain Stewart, UK Government Minister for Scotland said of the project: “This is a fantastic opportunity for businesses to work with the world-leading Net Zero Technology Centre to develop their ideas for the future of our energy sector.

“The UK Government is investing £90m ($118 million) in the centre as part of our broader package of support for the North Sea transition, with a goal of helping the region’s energy industry cut emissions by 50% by 2030. This will help bring prosperity and jobs to communities across the region by attracting investment in new facilities, skills and technologies.”

Competition Criteria

Projects must support the transition towards net zero with an obligation of trialling and deploying technology within the UK continental shelf. Those successful will gain access to industry data, facilities, and technical expertise.

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The first competition focuses on seven broad areas for applicants to submit technology ideas:

1. Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS); technology focus areas here include:
   a. transportation and storage
   b. containment
   c. CO2 and site monitoring geological behaviour.
2. Hydrogen and clean fuels; this extends to three further focus areas:
   a. improved electrolysis
   b. alternative fuel production prototype/pilot/demonstration projects
   c. marine and pipeline transport ancillary systems
3. Renewables and energy storage; focus areas are:
   a. substructures and foundations
   b. cabling
   c. offshore energy storage solutions
4. Zero emissions power; as the aim is to reduce the emissions from power generation in the offshore environment, the competition is seeking on-platform technologies that reduce this for existing UK North Sea infrastructure that aligns with the following key areas:
   a. Decarbonisation of Power Systems
   b. Energy storage, power management & efficiency
   c. Low Carbon Power Sources
5. Venting and flaring; this includes any technologies that eliminate the need for flaring within the following three focus areas:
   a. Gas export
   b. Gas recovery and storage
   c. Measurement and utilisation
6. Integrity management
7. Late life and decommissioning

Digital and data architecture, smart assets and field automation will form the key focus areas for the second £3 million ($3.9 million) competition due in October.

Myrtle Dawes, Solution Centre Director, Net Zero Technology Centre commented: “Our updated funding model will allow us to concentrate on specific technology gaps to develop and commercialise the innovative technologies that are currently in the prototype and demonstration phase and ultimately drive the huge leaps in clean energy innovation that will deliver our 2050 emission reduction targets.”