A pioneering robotics company and a team specialising in turning wastewater into green hydrogen will be among the leading experts at a major net zero tech conference in Aberdeen next month.
The Net Zero Innovators conference, organised by the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), will bring together energy professionals, emerging businesses, and growing companies.
NZTC is a not-for-profit organisation funded by the Scottish and UK governments through the Aberdeen City Region Deal.
The conference comes amid a multibillion-pound boom in the UK’s net zero sector, with Scotland leading the way in driving innovation and economic growth across clean energy industries.
Taking place on April 3 at P&J Live, this will be NZTC’s first event of its kind.
The conference will feature 50 exhibiting startups and a series of panels led by industry experts on decarbonisation and clean energy solutions.
Technologies on display will include renewables, storage, carbon capture, hydrogen, alternative fuels and industrial decarbonisation, with participants from NZTC’s TechX Accelerator programme showcasing cutting-edge innovations.
Exhibitors include Frontier Robotics, which enhances marine robots’ ability to operate autonomously, potentially transforming offshore wind farm maintenance.
Wastewater Fuels, from NZTC’s TechX 2023 cohort, uses microbes and electricity to turn wastewater and organic waste into green hydrogen, reducing pollution and creating sustainable fuel.
JET Connectivity will showcase its 5G mesh buoys for offshore communication, eliminating the need for outdated radio signals or fibre optic cables.
Other exhibitors focus on clean energy generation and storage, including systems that convert renewable energy into heat and innovative wave energy devices.
NZTC has secured tens of millions of pounds in private sector investment and co-invested £420 million to drive technology development and demonstration projects, creating 1,550 direct jobs in Scotland.
Recent figures show the UK’s net zero economy grew by 10.1 per cent in 2023, adding £83.1 billion in value, with Scotland leading the way with a 21.3 per cent increase.
A report from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit and CBI Economics found Scotland’s net zero economy now makes up 4.9 per cent of the total, contributing £9.1 billion in value. Employment in Scotland’s net zero sector has risen by 19.5 per cent, supporting 100,700 full-time jobs.
Across the UK, the net zero sector now supports 951,000 full-time jobs, including 273,000 directly in net zero businesses and 678,000 in the supply chain.
Mark Anderson, Chief Acceleration Officer at the Net Zero Technology Centre, said:
“Events like this are about more than just ideas – they’re about bringing people together and driving real change.
“As our first-ever Net Zero Innovators conference, this event is a major step forward in our journey to connect the brightest minds and most impactful innovations with their potential customers and backers in the energy industry.
“It’s happening at an exciting time for Scotland’s net zero economy, which is growing at the fastest rate in the UK.
“This conference will showcase how collaboration can accelerate the transition to net zero, boosting not only sustainability but also the economy by creating jobs, generating value and driving growth in the net zero sector.
“We’re thrilled to bring together experts and innovators who, through our TechX Accelerator, are turning cutting-edge ideas into scalable, commercial solutions.
“These startups are making a real impact in decarbonisation and driving progress in making energy more sustainable, affordable and accessible for everyone.”
