As the UK recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, the focus is firmly on the steps that can be taken to meet the goal of reaching net-zero carbon by 2050. The Northern Powerhouse is playing a pivotal role in this, with individual Local Enterprise Partnerships and the business community coming together to drive a low-carbon economy.
Here are just a few of the initiatives from across the North that are contributing to a greener future for all.
“Our ambition is for Greater Manchester to be carbon neutral by 2038. Through initiatives like our Retrofitting Task Force, GM Local Energy Market, and building a sustainable, integrated transport system, we are laying the groundwork for our low-carbon future and giving people new skills, creating good jobs and driving investment.”
“The Hull and East Yorkshire LEP (HEY LEP) has the highest concentration of energy assets in Yorkshire with significant activity around creating green and renewable energies and aiming to make the region net zero by 2030 via industrial decarbonisation and carbon capture. Companies, large and small, in the supply chain are being supported by the LEP through its Humber Industrial Cluster operations and its Growth and Energy Hubs, all of whom provide specialist industry and technical advice.”
“As a region we have already started delivering innovative, low carbon projects that will enable our sustainable future, including hydrogen and electrically fuelled public transport options, renewable energy projects such as Mersey tidal power and housing energy efficiency improvements – ensuing our vision for a globally competitive, environmentally responsible and socially inclusive economy is realised for the City Region.”
“From developing more efficient ways to use resources, to generating clean energy, to innovations that could transform the way we live and work, our regions’ businesses have enormous potential. The low carbon and renewable sector has the opportunity to create thousands of good jobs and revitalise our economies.”
“We are supporting a number of initiatives and cultural shifts to make the transition. This includes our work on active travel, encouraging greener ways of getting around, investing in safe walking and cycling routes, and investing in our public transport, moving towards a zero-emission fleet. We are also working with the universities in Sheffield on research programmes in conjunction with the private sector across multiple industries which will help drive innovative thinking and action.”
“Ensuring Cheshire and Warrington is at the heart of the UK economy’s transition to low carbon is our number one priority at the LEP. We have the expertise, the skills, the geology and a clear, investible plan here which we are ready to deliver. One of the most exciting projects, Hynet, the UK’s first Hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage facility, has the potential to create around £17bn GVA and some 5,000 jobs before 2025.”
“As a LEP, it’s our ambition to support York and North Yorkshire to be the UK’s first carbon negative region by 2040. This ambition can be achieved with a transition to renewable energy sources, making the most of all our materials and assets in the region, and enhancing our natural capital. By gearing up to transform to carbon negative, we are confident this will create new, better paid “green” jobs and it will create innovative new businesses whilst presenting opportunities for existing businesses to adapt. Through knowledge and expertise in this area, we can create competitive advantage that future-proofs our region.”
“Cumbria LEP’s (CLEP) ‘Restart, Reboot, Rethink’ Recovery Plan has net zero as one of its three touchstones, which sit at the heart of the Plan. CLEP is committed to net zero and has two priorities – supporting clean energy generation based on our heritage and expertise in nuclear, wind and other technologies; and helping all of our businesses to decarbonise. NPIF investments can help make these a reality.”
“Through its Energy & Low Carbon Sector Group, Lancashire Enterprise Partnership has brought together business leaders in the field to formulate our recently published sector plan. Designed to further our role as a leading innovator, developer and manufacturer of new low carbon technologies and support the UK’s transition to a low carbon economy. We have already secured investment for some of our interventions – such as RedCAT and the AMRC Low Carbon Demonstrator projects – and are now articulating the skills and training the sector will need to convert our ambitions into reality.”
“We’re spearheading huge clean energy, low carbon projects at Teesworks, the UK’s largest Freeport. Net Zero Teesside’s carbon capture, utilisation and storage power plant will be based there, creating the first decarbonised industrial cluster by 2030 and GE Renewable Energy’s wind turbine blade manufacturing facility will pave the way for an offshore centre for excellence. Elsewhere, as the UK’s first hydrogen hub, we’ll undertake real-world hydrogen transport pilots and BP is also planning the country’s largest “blue” hydrogen project here.”
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.
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Suiso - a Rotherham company developing an innovative hydrogen generator that could boost uptake of green energy - has ra...
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