Our story
The Aura Innovation Centre (AIC) is a new, low-carbon innovation facility based in the Humber with a strong focus on offshore wind power. The AIC gives businesses easy access to cutting-edge facilities, specialist funded support and a space to innovate and collaborate that's connected with the University of Hull.
We take a strategic view of the low-carbon sector, identifying opportunities where organisations, and particularly SMEs, can collaborate in order to find solutions to build their low-carbon capacity and work towards meeting net zero targets.
We have helped hundreds of businesses access low-carbon innovation support. As one example of an innovative SME project, The Transforming Waste project involved AIC, led by the University of Hull, working with local horticultural company M. Meadley & Sons to lower carbon, enhance their business returns and provide sustainable solutions for the region.
Composting releases both carbon dioxide and methane, both greenhouse gases. Currently there are no alternative uses for the pea pods, leaves or stems. There was a need to explore high-value uses for the pea waste and commercialisation opportunities.
Our challenge was to explore high value uses for the pea waste, finding viable commercialisation opportunities and reduce greenhouse gases created by waste organic matter. By working together with M. Meadley & Sons, our Innovation Managers secured funded support from our University academics to explore the chemical composition of vine garden pea waste and its suitability to produce bioethanol and carbonaceous materials.
Our advice
Waste products don't have to be valueless or a disposal burden. By re-evaluating unused or unnecessary products within your own industry or processes, you could identify a use or a new market for them that has potential to generate an income as well as benefit the environment. You may be surprised by how many business opportunities are presented.
By working with innovation accelerators like the Aura Innovation Centre, businesses are able to access a range of knowledge and expertise they might otherwise struggle to find or come through costly consultancy.
Our Changeprint
Our Changeprint can be measured by our impact across the five foundations of the national government's Industrial Strategy: Ideas, People, Infrastructure, Business Environment and Places.
Ideas - overcoming some of the challenges the offshore wind and wider low-carbon sectors face, from technical and operational to economic and societal.
People - equipping more people with the critical skills and knowledge needed to benefit from the renewable energy revolution.
Infrastructure - attracting further investment in R&D centres, facilities and local supply chains for innovative low-carbon sector projects.
Business Environment - helping over 300 SMEs and building more flexible low-carbon supply chains through job creation and local investment.
Places - creating opportunities for local economic growth and prosperity, with the advanced Humber Cluster leading the way in the UK’s renewables revolution.
