STREAM 2: EPSRC Place Based IAA (PB-IAA);Northern Net Zero Accelerator - Energy Systems Integration for a Decarbonised Economy

This Place-Based Impact Accelerator Account (PB-IAA) brings together academic, civic, industry and third sector partners. Across the North East, Teesside and the Humber (NETH), decarbonization and Net Zero are strategic priorities. Our ambition to accelerate the NETH region's performance with respect to Net Zero provides significant impetus for co-ordination through this PB-IAA.

We have titled the PB-IAA the Northern Net Zero Accelerator. The Northern Net Zero Accelerator will make, collate and translate knowledge from research on Net Zero technologies, policy, energy and industrial systems, to deliver impact in partnership with regional industry, civic bodies and the third sector, thereby ensuring a strong economy, and an improved environment, which is fair, and creates inclusive opportunities. Through the Northern Net Zero Accelerator, we will develop innovation clusters and supply chains within and between the NETH, to maximise place-based impact.

Our focus is on the theme of: Energy Systems for a Decarbonised Economy.

Three pillars to the theme have been identified:
* Low Carbon Energy Generation
* Energy Storage and Distribution
* Integration into End Use Sectors

The priorities and strengths of the universities, industry and civic partners have been identified through extensive collaboration, leading to this theme and three pillars.

The specific activities of the Northern Net Zero Accelerator encompass Projects, Partnerships, People, and Promotion. 'Projects' provide early-stage support to progress research outputs along various stages of the impact pipeline and to create/develop sustainable and diverse strategic partnerships. Activities will include support for the commercialisation of research innovation ideas and translation into policy and societally relevant actions at different points on the Technological Readiness Level (TRL) and Societal Readiness Level (SRL) pathways. 'Partnerships' will engage with new and existing partners to promote theme-specific areas that have been targeted for growth and development within the NETH. This includes activities such as sandpits and hackathons. 'People' will deliver training and secondments, thereby supporting increased skills, capacity and leadership in a way which is inclusive, collaborative, and ethically motivated. 'Promotions' supports the marketing and communication of the Northern Net Zero Accelerator.

Governance of the Northern Net Zero Accelerator is structured to ensure a shared focus and collaborative decision-making process across the consortium. We shall regularly report on outputs, outcomes, impact, equality diversity and inclusion data, and other relevant key performance indicators, to identify gaps and risks and to enable continuous learning. Case studies will be created, to promote successes, key learnings, and benefits of strategic partnership.