Plans to reduce carbon emissions in the North-west and deliver a world-first net zero industrial cluster is among the six projects announced to receive government funding.
The Net Zero NW Cluster Plan, led by Manchester development company Peel Environmental, will set out the transition to net zero for industry in the North West of England and North East Wales. It will describe the investments, technologies, infrastructure changes and sequencing required to fulfil the UK’s Industrial Clusters Mission. The plan aims to create over 33,000 new jobs and attract £4 billion investment to the region.
The project is among six to receive a share of £8 million of government funding in areas with high concentrations of industrial activity. The creation of net zero industrial zones will allow industries to work together to reduce carbon emissions and take advantage of new green technologies.
Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng MP said:
The UK is leading the world’s green industrial revolution, with ambitious targets to decarbonise our economy and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
As we continue to level up the UK economy and build back greener, 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.
Decarbonising UK industry is a key part of the government’s ambitious plan for the green industrial revolution. The six regions to win funding, the West Midlands, Tees Valley, North West and North East Wales, Humber, Scotland and South Wales, will now produce detailed plans for reducing emissions across major areas of industrial activity.
Funding for the scheme comes from the government’s £170 million Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge to deploy new technologies such as carbon capture and hydrogen networks, as well as establish net zero industrial clusters across the UK.