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It has been a very busy last few days for ETZ Ltd engaging directly with senior UK Government Ministers and officials. On Wednesday 16 October 2024, we hosted a US Hydrogen and CCUS delegation organised by the Department for Business and Trade and Scottish Development International at W-Zero-1 with special guest Tim Cullen, the recently appointed GB Energy Director. Our Chief Executive Maggie McGinlay then participated in a roundtable hosted by North Sea Transition Authority with Secretary of State Ed Milliband MP and Energy Minister Michael Shanks MP. The next day, both Ministers were joined by GB Energy Chair Juergen Maier as they received an update from Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult colleagues on the progress and impact of the world’s first Floating Wind Innovation Centre in the Energy Transition Zone. This transformational anchor project, made possible by ETZ Ltd's first strategic investment, is now operational and helping de-risk and lower the cost of commercialising floating wind. Following this, Maggie McGinlay and our Vice Chair Trevor Garlick welcomed Juergen Maier and Tim Cullen to our headquarters to discuss the ongoing delivery impact of ETZ Ltd. Through all these engagements we highlighted our willingness to use our deep connections with supply chain companies, developers and operators and to work closely with GB Energy to accelerate energy transition across the North East of Scotland.

ETZ Ltd has over the past year accelerated the delivery and acted to ensure the scale of the energy transition opportunity in the Energy Transition Zone and the wider region, is capitalised on. As we continue to reposition North East Scotland as an integrated energy cluster focussed on the delivery of net zero, our Annual Report for 2023/2024 summarises the various activities and projects ETZ Ltd has supported and delivered throughout the year. Read the full report here.

ETZ Ltd launches a pilot fund aimed at supporting local primary and secondary schools to deliver impactful programmes focused on inspiring and engaging their pupils in the energy transition. Providing exciting, accessible job opportunities for future generations is central to a successful and just energy transition. Supporting young people to develop the skills for rewarding, sustainable energy careers, starts in school. To boost skills development opportunities for both pupils and teachers, the Skills Energiser Fund provides up to £3,000 funding per school for school-age education programmes in the immediate vicinity of the Energy Transition Zone. This pilot programme will run in the 2024/25 academic year and include schools in Torry and Cove. For more information, including how to apply, see this download: Skills Energiser Fund Oct 2024

We are excited to announce the release of ETZ Ltd's Summer Quarterly Update. In the past few months, we have hit significant milestones in our goal to reposition Aberdeen and North East Scotland as a globally recognised energy cluster focused on the delivery of net zero. Click below to learn more! Click here to read the full update.

Seven projects win grants to support energy transition activities Funding from Energy Transition Zone Ltd (ETZ) has unlocked a £5.3 million investment package to revitalise years-vacant industrial buildings across the Altens and East Tullos industrial estates. The not-for-profit’s Property Improvement Fund (PIF) has delivered grants to seven projects within the Zone, attracting new tenants and facilitating expansion for businesses in low carbon energy and renewables. ETZ Ltd has awarded grants of £1.56m, unlocking total investment of more than £5.3m, with successful projects supporting up to 100 jobs in the region. Among the companies to receive a grant are AJT Engineering, facilitating a new renewables division and fresh recruitment, and Air Liquide, whose project has allowed expansion into low-carbon markets with associated employment opportunities. Aberdeen One Property has successfully secured funding to enhance a vacant property, which has since unlocked investment with Ross Safety & Survival confirming their long-term tenancy within the Zone. The majority of the buildings supported have been empty for several years, the longest among them being vacant since 2016. It comes after the 2014 oil price crash delivered shockwaves to Aberdeen’s real estate markets. The south side of the city, where the ETZ is situated today, saw mass over-supply and a lack of investment, which was still felt as recently as the middle of 2023, when more than one million square feet of property lay vacant. The PIF programme is an initial intervention to addressing what remains a significant challenge. PIF funding is being provided as part of the ETZ masterplan, supporting the widespread delivery of new and refurbished commercial property aligned to net zero principles. Funded projects will benefit from long-term sustainability and reduced running costs. The full list of awardees is: • BB Minto Ltd • Aberdeen One Ltd / Ross Safety and Survival • AJT Engineering Ltd. • Air Liquide Oil & Gas Services Ltd. • Sinomine Speciality Fluids Ltd. • EPIC ALVA 1 Ltd • West Coast Estates Criteria for the grants included adoption of net zero and circular economy principals in their building improvement projects and energy efficient operations. Funding has been provided to secure new private sector investment which will retain and attract businesses operating in low carbon energy and the wider supply chain, including decarbonisation of oil and gas. Neil Young, ETZ Land and Planning Director, said: “These grants deliver a shot in the arm to industrial property in the south side of Aberdeen, bolstering business confidence while helping attract and expand our net zero supply chain. “The impacts of the 2014 oil downturn can still be seen in this region, underlining the importance of the ETZ’s support ecosystem in developing our low-carbon industries. “Attracting nearly £4m of private investment, this fund showcases a rising demand in the city and the North East’s attractiveness as a global energy transition destination.” David Mitchell, Managing Partner at EPIC ALVA, said: “We acquired Units 7&8 Souter Head Road, Altens in December 2023 from an owner occupier, with the intention of speculatively refurbishing the units. “Our decision to make the purchase was based on the vision of ETZ Ltd. The grant funding we were awarded amounted to 25% of costs, allowing us to then press ahead with a comprehensive refurbishment to deliver high quality accommodation suitable for the energy supply chain. “We were so impressed by the individuals at ETZ and the speed with which they worked alongside us to offer and then deliver the grant. It is a credit to the company and with an attitude like this I am certain that they will achieve their goals for the Energy Transition Zone and the promotion of the North East of Scotland.” Martin Ross, Managing Director of Ross Safety and Survival said: “We are delighted to become the latest entrant to the Energy Transition Zone with the Property Improvement Fund playing an instrumental role in securing our tenancy. “As a specialist safety provider serving the industry, including oil and gas and offshore wind, the Zone is the ideal base for the next stage of our own energy transition journey and for supporting our customers.”

Ten companies, ranging from pioneering subsea robotics to next-generation EV charging, receive ETZ grants Ten North East firms with high-growth potential in renewables and low-carbon markets are benefitting from a £4 million investment boost, unlocked by Energy Transition Zone Ltd (ETZ) funding. The latest round of the ETZ Challenge Fund, which has so far unlocked more than £14m investment since 2022, has provided grants to firms ranging from pioneers in subsea robotics to developers of next-generation electric vehicle chargers, aimed at helping businesses to accelerate innovation and transition into low-carbon markets. The not-for-profit, spearheading North-East Scotland’s energy transition, has delivered £1.47m of capital grants, supporting further private funding of more than £2.4m. Today’s announcement marks its third round of Challenge Fund support. Launched in 2022, the Fund has so far issued more than £4.5m in capital grants to dozens of companies across Aberdeen City, Shire and Moray, unlocking total investment of more than £14 million across the three rounds. Through the Challenge Fund grants, backed by the Scottish Government Just Transition Fund, awardees are poised to grasp opportunities in a range of sectors including offshore wind, geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydropower. The full list of awardees is: Safelift Offshore Ltd (Offshore Wind) Trojan Energy (Electric Vehicle Charging)Greenwell Equipment (Offshore Wind, Onshore Wind, Hydropower, CCS, Wave Power) Resolute Energy Solutions Ltd (CCUS, geothermal, decarbonisation of oil and gas)ITC Hydraulic Services Ltd (Offshore Wind) Innovair Limited (Offshore Wind) Alba Gaskets (CCS, Decommissioning) HonuWorx Ltd (Offshore Wind) HPR ROV Ltd (Offshore Wind) ADC Energy (Offshore Wind) Primarily focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), ETZ has issued individual grants of up to £250,000 to firms, many of whom have traditionally serviced the oil and gas market and are now exemplars of the transition to clean energy in action. Project awardees include HPR ROV, developing “micro ROVs” for floating wind inspection, and Safelift Offshore, which is using its funding to develop a state-of-the-art fabrication facility at its Aberdeenshire base. The award of the funding was marked by Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Gillian Martin MSP, during a visit to Alba Gaskets this week. Traditionally an oil and gas-focused firm, Alba Gaskets is using the funding to help break into the CCS market utilising its specialised laser welding and 3D printing technology. Acting Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: “Scotland has an established track record in promoting renewable energy. We are at the forefront of its technology development and generate the majority of our electricity from renewable sources - ensuring we play a crucial role in the UK's overall energy landscape. “The ETZ Challenge Fund is a good example of how funding, supported by our Just Transition Fund, is helping businesses to accelerate innovation and transition into low-carbon markets. “This is yet another demonstration of the Government working closely with partners to ensure that our transition to net zero by 2045 is done in a way which is just and fair to everyone.” Freda Miller, Supply Chain Programme Manager at ETZ, said: “This impressive array of companies supported by the third round of the ETZ Challenge Fund showcases the scale of pioneering work being driven forward by this region’s world class energy innovators. “The supply chain is the lifeblood of our sector. These are the homegrown companies, with specialist skills and experience to scale and deploy innovative solutions that are vital if we’re going to reach net zero – both here in Scotland and right across the globe. “More than £3.9m of total funding has been unlocked through this round of the Challenge Fund, showcasing a sector which is ready and willing to diversify operations for the industrial revolution in green energy.” Gavin Sim, Managing Director, Alba Gaskets, said: “As a proud Scottish manufacturer, we want to create employment within the city and longevity for the business. “This funding will assist us in our goals to become the leading gasket supplier within the CCS market and we thank ETZ Ltd for its support in realising that ambition.”