Six UK projects get share of funding for industrial decarbonisation

Net Zero North West

THE UK Government has awarded a share of £8m (US$11m) to six regional projects to develop ways to cut emissions from industry.

The funding is part of the Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge, which will commit £170m to decarbonising industry through technologies such as CCS and hydrogen production. This is the second phase of the Challenge, with the six projects having already secured funding last year in the first phase for feasibility studies. The projects are run by consortiums consisting of industries, local authorities, and public bodies.

For the second phase, funding is provided for the projects to develop their decarbonisation plans, which are expected to detail how emissions can be reduced and assess options such as using shared clean energy infrastructure.

The six projects are:

• South Wales Industry – A Plan for Clean Growth, led by consultancy CR Plus, which is the plan for the South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC).
• Repowering the Black Country Phase 2 Cluster Plan, led by the Black Country Consortium, which will include the decarbonisation of small and medium-sized energy intensive businesses.
• Net Zero Tees Valley: Cluster Plan Stage 2, led by Tees Valley Combined Authority.
• Scotland’s Net Zero Roadmap (SNZR), led by Neccus, which aims to achieve net zero in Scotland by 2045.
• The Net Zero NW Cluster Plan, led by Peel Environmental, which will cover North West England and North East Wales, and aims to create around 33,000 new jobs.
• Humber Industrial Cluster Plan, led by Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (Humber LEP), to develop the Humber Cluster Plan to decarbonise the region which emits more CO₂ than any other industrial cluster. The projects within the Humber Cluster Plan include HyNet North West and a waste plastic to hydrogen facility.

The Government aims to establish four low-carbon industrial hubs by 2030, with at least one cluster achieving net zero emissions by 2040.

Kwasi Kwarteng, Energy Minister, said: “We must ensure every sector is reducing carbon emissions to help us achieve our commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. This funding will help key industrial areas meet the challenge of contributing to our cleaner future while maintaining their productive and competitive strengths.”

Bryony Livesey, UKRI Challenge Director, Industrial Decarbonisation, said: “This second phase of the competition asks companies and partners to plan for comprehensive changes to industries, products and supply lines. This is a crucial step in the Government’s plans to develop cost-effective decarbonisation in industrial hubs that tackle the emissions challenge UK industry faces.”