The need to cut carbon emissions has never been more important. With the global heating we’ve already locked in, we’re seeing more wildfires, heatwaves, droughts and floods. Shifting away from fossil fuels is increasingly urgent. And it is Britain’s industrial heartlands that hold the key to this challenge.
Industries such as metals, chemicals, food and drink, paper and pulp, ceramics, glass and oil refining account for around one sixth of UK emissions. The government sees the industrial clusters of Humber, the Black Country, South Wales, Scotland, Teesside, North West England and the Solent as pivotal in reaching net zero by 2050. It has set a goal of creating the world’s first net zero industrial cluster by 2040, and at least four low-carbon clusters by 2030.
Industrial regions are also essential for our economy, contributing £170 billion each year and providing 2.6 million jobs, so their decarbonisation must be planned and delivered with great care. In these industrial regions, technologies are being developed and deployed to help sectors decarbonise.
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Over recent decades the Humber region had developed as a critical industrial cluster for the UK. The Humber Industrial Cluster emits more CO2 than any other industrial cluster; 30 per cent more than the next largest and therefore has ample opportunities for industrial decarbonisation.
It is home to the UKRI-funded project, the Humber Industrial Cluster Plan, and three large scale deployment projects
The Zero Carbon Humber partnership is creating pipelines for carbon dioxide and hydrogen to enable the region’s industrial emitters to capture and store their emissions while also switching to a sustainable energy source. Meanwhile Humber Zero is developing a carbon capture and hydrogen hub, and the Northern Endurance Partnership - which brings together industries across Humber and Teesside - is developing an offshore carbon dioxide pipeline network.
Billions of pounds are being invested to ensure the sustainable future of industries such as refining, steel, petrochemicals, manufacturing and power generation, and their associated supply chains.
Zero Carbon Humber’s aim, to transport carbon dioxide via pipelines to be permanently and safely stored offshore under the North Sea, is anticipated to help protect 55,000 jobs in the region.
Meanwhile, Humber Zero’s plans, to decarbonise the gas-fired heat and power plant and refining operations near Immingham on the south bank of the River Humber, is anticipated to create 2,500 jobs during construction, leading to 200 permanent jobs, while safeguarding 20,000 direct and indirect jobs in local industry. A carbon capture and hydrogen hub will provide cost-effective decarbonised energy supply and storage opportunities.
The types of jobs we can expect to see created as we decarbonise include mechanical, electrical and chemical engineers, project managers, hydrogen installation and commissioning technicians, carbon monitoring technicians, pipeline fitters and designers. We can also expect to see maintenance roles such as offshore barge operators. These are all high-quality, highly-skilled careers. Decarbonisation also helps protect and create new jobs within the wider supply chains.
IDRIC is supporting the region and helping share knowledge, so this pioneering work will be translated into future research, training and teaching activities, preparing the next generation for a net zero world.
As director of IDRIC, I’m excited about our role as the national focal point and international gateway for industrial decarbonisation research and innovation. We are supporting the effort underway in industrial regions by bringing together universities and businesses, nurturing talent, sharing knowledge and providing evidence for decision-makers.
IDRIC has immense convening power, working with over 20 universities and engaging with over 100 world-leading researchers. We are backed by £20 million of UKRI funding until 2024. By acting as a one stop shop, we can ensure research and innovation in industrial decarbonisation gathers pace.
Since being set up in 2021, IDRIC has launched more than 40 research and innovation projects. They have been grouped into nine multidisciplinary integrated programmes, each addressing a key challenge or pathway for industrial decarbonisation. Themes include system planning, infrastructure, scale up opportunities, deployment of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and hydrogen, and reducing the costs and risks of negative emission technologies, as well as policy, social and economic aspects..
IDRIC has also set up a policy hub which convenes dialogue between research, industry, policymakers and local communities, and guides researchers towards funding to respond to emerging issues.
The opportunities for Britain’s industrial heartlands to decarbonise were outlined to politicians at an IDRIC parliamentary reception in Westminster last month, kindly hosted by Jacob Young who represents Redcar on Teesside. We met with many MPs whose constituencies are in industrial regions, and they are excited by the potential for their communities.
They heard from us that we only have 90 months to lead the world in delivering our net zero ambition. The 2020s must be the decade of action.
MPs heard that the industrial regions are providing opportunities for decarbonising a wide range of sectors, supporting the levelling-up agenda. MPs were encouraged to use their local knowledge to foster connections with industry partners, and to reflect the needs of their constituents when it comes to skills and employment. We also hope the politicians remember IDRIC as a source of expertise to help inform parliamentary work.
All this activity, I hope, gives you a flavour of the passion with which we are approaching this challenge. By tackling decarbonisation from all angles - from addressing scientific, technical and economic challenges to understanding the social impacts on communities - we can help Britain’s industrial heartlands go faster and further on this vital journey.
To stay up to date with IDRIC please visit idric.org.
Read next:
Hydrogen world leader Air Products teams up with VPI for Immingham production plan
Drax sees earnings rise ahead of major investments in first half of 2022
Grid stability technology launches on the Humber as balance brought to aid renewables revolution
RWE outlines the path to Dogger Bank South offshore wind farms after latest government go-ahead
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