North East innovation hub connects with the future of energy

The Catalyst customers enjoyed an access-all-areas tour of the District Energy Centre, exploring the power plant and learning about how it powers the Newcastle Helix through innovative energy sources, lifting the curtain on this lesser-known part of the site.

Home to the National Innovation Centres for Data and Ageing, The Catalyst partnered with Bring Energy to provide the tour of the facility. Led by Kirk Wallace, Operations Lead for Bring Energy in the North, he shared insights into the District Energy Centre, the energy each building uses, and how much power is generated at the plant for distribution across Newcastle city centre.

Attendees saw first-hand the industrial cooling tanks, generators and boilers, used to provide power and heating around the Helix development and beyond.

Ryan Blake, Assistant Centre Manager at The Catalyst, said: “Tours like this are a great way to lift the curtain for customers and show them where their power comes from and how it is created.

“The District Energy Centre isn’t just keeping the Helix running, it represents a wider commitment to sustainability something that unites and connects our customers, who are driving innovation every day.”

Newcastle’s goal to reach net zero is supported by investments like this, where practical energy solutions combine with long-term thinking.

Kirk added: “The District Energy Centre provides affordable heating, cooling and electricity to the 24-acre site, from businesses and homes around the Helix to the wider city centre.

“We like to think of the Energy Centre as a boiler and each building as a radiator, where all of the power is generated locally through a closed-loop energy source, then distributed where necessary, and although it’s all currently gas-fired, we plan to explore how we’ll decarbonise the asset to further reduce Newcastle’s carbon footprint.”

The scheme aims to provide a carbon emission saving of 30,650 tonnes over 40 years, providing energy to businesses and homes on the site via a network of underground pipes.

“It’s great too because the system is designed to scale, with the current infrastructure being a blueprint for wider city adoption,” Kirk added.

“The Helix essentially acts as proof of concept that a connected, lower-carbon heat network works, and we’ve already expanded to The Core, Blandford House and we’re looking to connect Newcastle College and more sites across the city over time, so it’ll be a truly interconnected system.”

Oxford Innovation Space is making a promise to the planet to take responsible steps to minimise their carbon emissions with the goal of becoming net zero by 2050. Oxford Innovation Space’s targets are:

• Cut scope 1 and emission by 50% by 2030 — These are emissions from things they directly control, like heating and electricity.
• Reduce scope 3 emissions by 50% by 2040 — these are indirect emissions, like business travel, commuting, and suppliers.
• Reduce our total emissions by around 90% by 2050, becoming Net Zero.

To reach these goals, Oxford Innovation Space is working with sustainability consultants, Positive Planet, to measure, reduce, and offset its emissions every year. Together, they’ll identify where emissions are highest and create a clear plan to reduce them.

Read the full Net Zero Report and explore Oxford Innovation Space’s ESG commitments here.

This work reflects the action being taken to build a cleaner, greener future — especially at The Catalyst, where a strong culture of innovation and collaboration is driving change in Newcastle and beyond.

About Oxford Innovation Space

Oxford Innovation Space is the UK’s leading operator of innovation centres, with over 30 managed centres in the UK, providing flexible, cost-effective office, laboratory, and workshop solutions for entrepreneurs, start-ups and growing businesses. Working closely with universities, local authorities, science parks, developers and investors, Oxford Innovation Space helps to transform places and local economies by creating supportive environments where innovative businesses come together and thrive.

About The Catalyst

The Catalyst is a landmark centre for innovation in the heart of Newcastle’s Helix development. Home to the UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA) and National Innovation Centre for Data (NICD), The Catalyst brings together businesses, academics and research specialists, driving breakthroughs in data science, healthy ageing and sustainability. Offering flexible office space, state-of-the-art meeting and event facilities, and a collaborative community at its core, The Catalyst supports organisations of all sizes to grow, connect and shape the future.

To learn more about The Catalyst and the businesses it supports, visit: www.thecatalystnewcastle.co.uk

To learn more about Oxford Innovation and their commitment to net zero, visit:

Powering innovation with purpose: our Net Zero commitment | Oxford Innovation Space News