From Norfolk to Net Zero

Tree Associates isn’t just innovating; they are setting the stage for a seismic shift in how industries fight carbon emissions and energy waste as we fight for a brighter future and a path to Net Zero.

To say the technology that they are developing here at Hethel Engineering Centre could reshape how we tackle climate change feels like an understatement. Seeing testing in action looks like magic because the technology and results, even at the testing phase, are breath-taking.

Tree-Associates is fast-tracking Norfolk-built tech out into the world, turning local prototypes into powerful industrial assets ready to accelerate the journey to net zero.

East of England to the World: Pilots That Spark Change

What makes this moment thrilling is that real pilots with real customers are underway, not just in labs but in the field:

Nigeria’s Solar Battery Hub will be powered by AirBattery, a modular compressed-air energy storage system designed to address the challenges of grid gaps, heat, and the demands of hard-wearing industrial sites. This tech stands to cut diesel generator runtime dramatically, using abundant sunshine to bank clean energy for when it’s needed most, all part of Innovate UK’s ZE-Gen initiative.

The cement industry is trialling Tree-Associates’ modular Carbon Capture, targeting “hard-to-abate” exhaust streams and bottling up emissions as high-purity liquid CO₂. This breakthrough, now being demonstrated in Norfolk, could transform carbon management for concrete, steel, marine and more.

Technology That Turns Obstacles Into Opportunities

AirBattery isn’t a minor upgrade; it’s a leap. Forget flammable chemicals and rare earth metals; this is stackable, field-serviceable energy storage with round-trip efficiency targeted at 70%. Modules are designed for MW-scale systems, ushering in flexible grids and greener, more resilient power for hot climates and remote regions. By using compressed air, not lithium, Tree-Associates keeps costs down, scaling up from small businesses to entire communities. Its modular design enables rapid deployment, maintenance with local skills, and reliable performance, unlike others that risk overheating, failure, or high costs.

Carbon Capture, meanwhile, is engineered for impact in sectors that have struggled to clean up. Instead of complex solvent cocktails prone to chemical leaks, Tree’s system compresses and cools CO₂ directly, separating it into a liquid with purity as high as 99.8% and capturing over 95% of stack emissions in models. Liquefied output means easier, cheaper transport and storage, and operations need just half the energy per kg compared to traditional amines. This is the difference between carbon strategies that remain theoretical and those that integrate into the global supply chain, encompassing fuel, fertiliser, sequestration, and reuse. Cement, marine, chemicals, and energy-intensive industries are potential game-changers for climate action.

Why This Changes Everything: Net Zero, Now Within Reach
The implications couldn’t be bigger. Tree’s integrated technologies mean any region, not just energy giants, can build decarbonisation into the fabric of their industry, combining advanced engineering, economic practicality, and local workforce upskilling in one package. Norfolk’s impact scales from the workshop to the world, demonstrating that “Net Zero” isn’t a distant dream; it’s achievable now, with the proper hardware and mindset.

And Tree Associates isn’t alone. With Hethel Innovation’s ecosystem backing their ambition, Innovate UK supporting rapid deployment, and pilots at industrial sites in Africa and Europe, they stand at the vanguard of a movement, one where climate action comes with commercial opportunity, and every deployment is another step toward a cleaner planet.

“Hethel gives us the space, skills and support to turn prototypes into industrial decarbonisation products.” – Johan.

The journey to net zero is about to speed up. From Norfolk-built prototypes to shippable pilots, Tree Associates is proving that targeted innovation, rooted in practical engineering and honest customer feedback, can change industries, communities, and the global climate story.

Are you ready to be part of the transformation?

You can contact Tree-Associates here, or find out about being a part of the broader network with CleanTech East here.