Seaham’s ‘clean tech’ trailblazers take centre-stage at County Durham showcase 

TWO Seaham-based companies whose technologies could help shape the battle to combat global climate change were spotlighted at a major conference highlighting the region’s innovators.

Power Roll, which has invented revolutionary flexible solar, and fellow clean tech company, Low Carbon Materials, which manufactures decarbonised concrete and asphalt, could both make a huge contribution to the UK’s net zero and clean energy goals in the years ahead.

The two neighbours on the Jade Business Park between Seaham and Murton have quietly been building multi-million investments and scaling up capacity over the last few years.

But their growth potential and promise of giving a major shot in the arm to British industry were some of the focuses of the Get Set Green Exhibition, which highlighted the potential in the clean energy sector in County Durham and beyond.

Dozens of exhibitors gathered at Ramside Hall Hotel on the edge of Durham city and more than 300 businesses signed up to attend an annual green transition gathering whose theme this year was innovation and sustainability.

As well as inviting the region’s clean technology pioneers, with recently launched Weardale Lithium also taking a stand, the event brought together funders, investors, climate agencies, businesses and public bodies in a day-long talking shop.

Weardale Lithium, which this month got planning permission to build the UK’s largest lithium extraction facility in Eastgate, near Stanhope in County Durham is the latest of exciting new clean-tech industries in the region’s portfolio.

The exhibition gave the buoyant company a chance to explain what that could mean in terms of new skills and jobs to hundreds of delegates at the county’s showpiece event on the green transition.

“Get Set Green has been eight months in the planning, but we couldn’t be more pleased with how well it has gone,” said event coordinator Guy Bashford.

“The council is currently responsible for three per cent of the county’s emissions while commercial and industrial sectors come in at something like 22 per cent, so we want to help them find ways to speed up their Net Zero journey.”

Sponsored by the Durham Business Growth Programme and run by Business Durham and Durham County Council’s Low Carbon Team, the day included Meet The Buyer sessions, webinars and seminars bringing groups together.

Kerry Walker of Business Durham said, “We’re here to be facilitators, bringing everyone together, getting them in the same room, and getting them to talk, make connections, and network. Itt was great to see the buzz and enthusiasm on the day.

“There are some inspirational clean tech businesses right here on our doorsteps, and it’s great that you can boost their profile.”

Neil Spann, the CEO of Power Roll, said: These types of events are critical in terms of letting people know what you’re doing and also in providing the opportunity to meet other businesses because County Durham has got a real strong base of clean-tech companies – wind, solar, advanced materials.

“It also acts as a showcase and a chance to learn things.

“I don’t think as a region we are as good as we could be at showcasing the world-class business that we’ve got.

“In Power Roll’s case, we have a unique product we hope is going to change the face of solar, across the region, across the country and also internationally.

“It does what it says on the label; you simply roll it out, stick it down, connect it and stand back, and it can go in so many places where traditional solar can’t.”

Jonathan Duckmanton, head of operations at Low Carbon Materials, echoed Neil’s views.

His company has already been involved in successful roll-outs of carbon-negative asphalt across County Durham. It has already been used further afield on the M11 and the A64 with the road ahead looking very bright for the former Durham University spin-off business.

Jonathan said: “The Get Set Green event was excellent for us, for meeting people we collaborate with and strengthening our relationships with them as well as meeting new people to whom we can explain our business.

“The construction industry is responsible for 25% of the country’s carbon emissions, so products like ours can be transformative in the long run and bring that down.”

It wasn’t just the innovators, though, who benefited from the event.

Finance company Maven attended to look at products to invest in and pointed out the value of bringing different organisations together.

Michael Dickens, investment manager at Maven, said: “Like a lot of finance companies, we see the clean-tech sector and sustainability as a key destination for growth and investment, so it was really useful to be at the Exhibition with so many different groups represented.

“It was good to be part of a mix of partners, companies and organisations committed to efforts to use less carbon and drive to a more sustainable future for businesses and communities.”