More than £15 billion of private investment “waiting to be unleashed on the Humber” could make the region a ‘lighthouse’ when it comes to putting the spotlight on Net Zero.
In what gave a preview of a 2030 vision set to be officially unveiled as part of the upcoming Waterline Summit, key stakeholders gathered for a roundtable discussion on making it a just transition for the Energy Estuary. Inward-investing Equinor joined Offshore Energies UK to host the event at Aura Innovation Centre at Hessle, and having respectfully paused with the passing of the Queen, the rescheduled timing made it almost a fringe event for the three-day focus looming, with several panelists involved in both.
With a prospectus packed with details on the 18 projects with allied intent for one of the most carbon intensive regions on the globe now published, there is a sense that monumental climate solutions are in touching distance.
Read more: Hydrogen, carbon capture and offshore wind - all Humber infrastructure Chancellor aims to accelerate
Dominic Martin, Equinor’s senior advisor on policy and regulation, said: “The Humber is on the cusp of a great opportunity, there are a huge number of very well thought through projects close to final investment decision and just waiting for final details of the policy and regulatory framework for them to happen. The opportunity is not just for the Humber itself but for it to become a lighthouse for the rest of the world. What is happening in the Humber is being looked at very keenly across the world.
“The UK government has done a great job in putting in place the elements that will enable large scale deployment of carbon capture and storage and hydrogen production. This is important, as is too that the government sticks to the course that they have set and gives investors the confidence they need to turn these projects into on-the-ground reality.”
Equinor is behind two plans for hydrogen production in the Humber, as well as storage and power generation with SSE Thermal, and offshore wind too.
The dual pipeline plan to link a region with a cleaner fuel supply and provide the receptacle for industrial emissions that will see them sequestered below the North Sea is front and centre, stretching from Drax in the West to the terminals of Easington and Theddlethorpe on the coast. Saltend and Immingham are concentrated zones, with Keadby and Scunthorpe also key, bringing in ports and power, manufacturing and storage.
Mark Goldstone, head of regional policy at the CBI, said: “What the Humber is doing is a huge opportunity for the UK and for the world. When the World Economic Forum says this is one of two of the biggest opportunities to sort out decarbonisation - recognition from such an influential organisation - for us not to pick up the mantle and run with it would be such a lost opportunity.
“We talk about confidence, clarity and certainty, if the government is looking to deliver then this is it. We have a target of 2050, and we will keep on just talking about it unless we see it in action. This is the demonstrator, this is the one with real export potential here if we get it right. We want the world looking at this place. This is a global challenge, and we can be part of the solution.”
He features in the opening panel discussion at The Waterline Summit on Monday.
Jade Fernandez, stakeholder manager for SSE Thermal, said the event and information coming out of it “was great, and it keeps the momentum going and keeps us all talking and collaborating”. One of the roundtable panelists, the company stands alongside Equinor on several of the highlighted projects. She said: “As a company we are wedded to low carbon thermal development and while we have other projects in other areas we see the Humber as a key strategic region. We’re so pleased to be part of the cluster and at the forefront of all these technologies. We also recognise it is important to take stakeholders with us.”
Importance of continued backing from industry and government of academic institutions such as Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and innovation like that weaned at Bridgehead Business Park under University of Hull’s wings was also underlined by representatives Simon Collingwood and Louise Smith too.
Alix Thom, workforce engagement and skills manager for OEUK, reflected on the event, moderated by Business Live’s David Laister. She added: “I think it is really exciting, and events like this build confidence in what is happening here; the clarity of vision and great ambition. I was really struck by the consistency of the messages from speakers in terms of the importance of collaboration, clear promotion of skills.”
On the opportunity, she added: “It is not just about the Humber, it is other clusters too. It is really exciting that this is a world-first, but also a template to show how we do this again, how we replicate this in the future. It makes it an important trailblazer.”
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