An Energy Innovation Agency is to be created by three Greater Manchester universities, local government and SSE Enterprise.
The agency is to help support the region’s 2038 carbon neutral target, with an aim of bridging the innovation gap. It will act as an intermediary between the region’s environmental research output, industry innovators, the energy supply pipeline and stakeholders in Greater Manchester.
It is hoped this will lead to an acceleration of emission reductions, increased implementation of technological innovations and enhanced, forward-thinking policy agenda setting.
Stephen Stead, director of Strategy and Digital Services, SSE Enterprise highlighted that significant investment was planned for the North West, making it one of the fastest growth areas in Europe.
“SSE brings vast experience in developing localised energy systems, innovative technology solutions and a ‘whole system thinking’ approach to support GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) drive for cleaner and more affordable energy, high value jobs and a clear focus on net zero carbon by 2038.”
The agency – which was announced as part of the Greater Manchester Green Summit – is a collaboration between the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Salford alongside the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and SSE Enterprise.
Professor Helen Marshall, vice chancellor at the University of Salford, said that in combining the university’s “own research excellence in energy and buildings” with the other universities’ research excellence in energy “we can lead the way in the decarbonisation agenda and create the clean, high value jobs and businesses that this agenda has the potential to bring.”
