Energy Estuary V2 is a plan in progress with global-leading ambition to widen the foothold created in offshore wind.
Sub-headed Strength in Places, University of Hull - with partners - is closing in on a competition to win £36 million to fund technology demonstrators in the Humber region.
With the concentrated credentials around decarbonising power, agriculture, manufacturing, transport and buildings – the five strands – and the estuary location where the gains from a green economy and the issues with climate change can be seen, it has made it to a shortlist from scores of submissions.
Key planks are diversification of energy generation, localisation, carbon capture utilisation, flood resilience and raising aspirations, skills and behaviours.
Bondholders chairman Andy Parkinson, who is working on the project, said what had been achieved under the brand was making it possible.
He said: “Energy Estuary is the marketing strapline that has really stuck, referenced now by several prime ministers.
“It has created a magnet for investment, a wave of activity which is really important for an area like this. Confidence has always been an issue, and we’re starting to feel we can talk with authority now.”
Stating the five grand challenges were all in the Humber to be addressed, and with a great story to tell, he said: “We have the perfect living laboratory to test stuff. We can be a region to attract globally big business here, investing in technology to decarbonise. I think we are going to see a gold rush in technology, and then there’s global export opportunity. It creates knowledge, jobs of high value, which are really important.”
