A North East steel company says it wants to be 'a major player' in the fast-growing energy sector in the region.

LIBERTY Pipes at Hartlepool was last month selected to supply carbon capture pipes to the Northern Endurance Partnership and Net Zero Teesside Power project in the East Coast Cluster. The company supplies high-quality carbon steel linepipe materials across the energy industry spectrum and last year completed a test programme to become one of just a handful of firms globally who can supply pipes suitable for safe transportation and storage of hydrogen.

The business is also supplying two major contracts from Subsea7 for gas development projects in the North Sea.

During a visit to the plant by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, Jeffrey Kabel, LIBERTY Steel’s Chief Transformation Officer said: "Our manufacturing expertise can help lead the energy transition, and drive significant benefits for the local, regional and national UK economy. Our ability to supply pipeline material across the energy system – both existing and new technologies - means we can be a major player in the fast-growing market for new energy infrastructure.”

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The Tees Valley has seen significant investment in recent years in offshore wind, sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen production and carbon capture, generating new opportunities for businesses, and Ben Houchen said: “It’s clear to see that LIBERTY Pipes in Hartlepool will continue to thrive as they compete to supply new markets like carbon capture and hydrogen pipeline, building on the efforts we’re making to put our region at the centre of the clean energy industry.

“LIBERTY’s selection as a supplier for bp and Equinor’s Net Zero Teesside is great news for local jobs. The vast range of projects the LIBERTY team can supply as well as their location in the Teesside Freeport means they’re perfectly placed to win even more work that can create skilled new jobs here in Hartlepool.”