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An innovative renewable energy centre named after internationally renowned scientist Paul Younger has been officially opened in his hometown.

The Paul Younger Centre, in Hebburn town centre, uses air source heat pumps to provide renewable heating and hot water to Durham Court residential block and Hebburn Central leisure facility.

The Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor Fay Cunningham unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening of the building. She was joined by the Mayoress, Stella Matthewson and dignitaries including former Mayor Councillor John McCabe as well as Paul's family and friends.

The Mayor said: "The Hebburn Renewable Energy Centre is a wonderful tribute to the late Professor Paul Younger, who was born in the town and went on to become one of the world's foremost experts in his field. It was a real honour to perform the official opening and wonderful to mark such a special occasion with Paul's family and friends.

"Paul was described by his colleagues as passionate, warm and as having a fundamental desire to do good in the world. I'm sure he would be extremely proud to have such a fantastic facility in the town he was born."

The centre's two-stage 450kw air source heat pump solution takes ambient heat from the air and converts it into hot water to provide low carbon heating. It has allowed the Council to reduce its reliance on traditional, gas-fired boilers, and is helping to cut carbon emissions by around 320 tonnes per year. Electricity generated locally using solar panels and a Combined Heat and Power unit helps to power the system.

The project originally intended to draw on geothermally heated warm water in flooded disused coal mines. However, this method was found to be unworkable during the drilling works phase due to the conditions deep underground which could not have been foreseen. Fortunately, mitigation measures designed into the scheme from the outset meant the project could progress, with energy generated by drawing ambient heat from the air, rather than from underground.

The building is named after the late Professor Paul Younger, a hydrogeologist and environmental engineer recognised around the world for his work on mine water pollution and renewable energy.

He played a key role in the bid to make Newcastle a City of Science and Technology. He also led the research team that won Newcastle University its first Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher Education in 2005.

Paul was educated at St Joseph's Grammar School before going to Newcastle University to study Geology, receiving a first-class honours degree in 1984. He was later appointed Director of the Newcastle Institute for Research on Sustainability. In 2012, Paul moved to Glasgow where he accepted the role of Chair of Engineering at Glasgow University, researching geothermal and renewable energy.

Speaking at the official opening event, Paul's son Dominic Glasgow said: "The Paul Younger Centre stands as a beacon for the future. The innovative air source heat pumps, solar panels and combined heat and power unit represents the kind of solutions my father worked his entire life to develop.

"For someone who loved geology, energy and improving the environment, this centre is a fitting tribute to my father's legacy. We hope that this centre will inspire future generations, just as Paul inspired all of us to imagine a better, more sustainable world. The technologies in play inside this building will help create a cleaner, greener future, just as he always believed we could.

"While we deeply wish he could be here, we are incredibly proud that his vision and hard work are continuing to make a real impact with homes and businesses in Hebburn already benefiting from the low-carbon heat he helped to bring to life."

The scheme secured more than £4.8m in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and was developed in collaboration with the Coal Authority and Durham University, with the new centre built in a partnership with Vital Energi, Buro Happold and Driver Group.

It is the second of the Council's flagship renewable energy projects, following the opening of the award-winning Viking Energy Network in Jarrow (VENJ). VENJ draws heat from the River Tyne using innovative technologies, making it a first in the UK.

Both schemes, marking their first year in operation, are delivering a combined annual reduction of around 1,035 tonnes in carbon emissions.

Councillor Ernest Gibson, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change at Â鶹ÊÓƵ, said: "These groundbreaking energy centres show real innovation and vision in renewable energy solutions. We will continue to work in partnership with others to assess and deliver future schemes wherever possible to help us deliver even more carbon savings.

"They are just one of the ways we are using modern technology to meet our energy demands in a more sustainable way and creating a cleaner, greener Borough for our residents."