MEMBER NEWS: Net Zero Technology Centre announces new TechX Accelerator strategic partnership with ADNOC

January 18, 2022
MEMBER NEWS: Net Zero Technology Centre announces new TechX Accelerator strategic partnership with ADNOC

The Net Zero Technology Centre has today [18 January] announced Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) as an additional TechX Strategic Partner.

ADNOC, alongside bp and Equinor, will actively contribute to the accelerator programme and offer pioneering start-ups access to technology experts and the potential for field trials.

TechX is set to accelerate 12 clean energy start-ups with technology focus areas ranging from digitalisation, hydrogen and CCUS, to renewable energy and oil & gas emission reduction technologies. The programme’s focus aligns with ADNOC’s decarbonisation strategy, which in recent months has seen ADNOC, bp and Masdar agree to explore developing clean hydrogen hubs in both the UAE and UK.

In December 2021, ADNOC also announced its plans, alongside GE, to develop a decarbonisation roadmap for power generation, which includes reducing carbon emissions from gas turbines used to power ADNOC’s downstream and industry operations. With support from ADNOC, bp and Equinor, TechX will launch the fourth cohort of its award-winning accelerator next month where selected start-ups will undertake an intensive 15-week programme followed by two years’ growth support.

Mark Anderson, TechX Director, welcomed the new partnership, saying: “We are delighted to welcome ADNOC as a TechX Strategic Partner, as they share our focus in exploring and accelerating disruptive technologies that can help us decarbonise the energy industry and speed up the transition to net zero. “Through our global partnerships, which have allowed us to enhance and diversify the accelerator programme, we look forward to discovering the next generation of highly innovative clean energy technologies. As we expand our portfolio of game-changing tech start-ups, the expert support, investment and potential for field trials offered by our Strategic Partners will help us to build a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem with sustainability at its core.”

Ali Al Rawahi, Vice President, R&D (Upstream) at ADNOC Group, said: ADNOC is excited to be the first company in the region to join the award-winning TechX programme as a strategic partner. Joining bp and Equinor in this programme that focuses on sourcing, accelerating and adopting disruptive net-zero technologies, reinforces ADNOC’s commitment to provide global technology leadership and contributes towards achieving the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative.”

Nick Kendall, Investment Associate at bp ventures, said: “We are pleased that ADNOC has been announced as a TechX Strategic Partner. This offers an exciting opportunity to collaborate on innovative technologies and solutions that can help to decarbonise global oil and gas operations, as well as accelerating clean energy technologies to help deliver our shared net zero goal. TechX will play a key role in supporting the existing strategic partnership between bp and ADNOC, with our ambitions of developing clean energy solutions for the UK and UAE.”

Jeroen Van der Hoek, Investment Manager at Equinor Ventures, said: “Equinor welcomes ADNOC to the consortium of partners behind TechX. A diverse set of partners supporting TechX will help boost the start-up ecosystem and innovate to solve the challenges of the energy transition. As a strategic partner, we look forward to working with our new partners to help provide access to technology experts, special recognition awards, potential investment opportunities and field trials.”

Founded in 2017, the Net Zero Technology Centre was created as part of the Aberdeen City Region Deal, with £180 million of UK and Scottish government funding to maximise the potential of the North Sea. To date, the Centre has co-invested £192 million in technologies which have the potential to generate £10-15 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the Scottish economy, screened over 1450 technologies, completed 89 field trials, with a further 36 planned or already live and have progressed more than 23 technologies to commercialisation.

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Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has worked closely with AREG since its formation. The recent progress in the developments of offshore wind projects by Equinor and Vattenfall are as a result of the work of the group over many years. The north-east is known as the oil and gas capital of Europe. At the Chamber, we believe the region must evolve its position to being recognised as the energy capital. Whilst hydrocarbons will continue to be essential in driving our economy for years to come, the generation of renewable resources will play an increasingly important role in providing cost-effective power, innovative development and economic growth.

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Aberdeen City and Shire is emerging as a key location for renewables by successfully transferring its world-class oil and gas expertise into the sector and AREG has done much to advance this through a broad range of initiatives. It has acted as a catalyst in driving further investment in the local economy by engaging with companies, Government, public bodies and existing projects and we have been pleased to support their efforts. Scottish Enterprise will continue to engage with AREG as we increase Scotland’s use of renewable energy.

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