Manufacturing organisation Make UK’s Electrify Industry has launched in the Houses of Parliament with companies from across British industry coming together on the issue.
If industrial electricity prices were to be addressed effectively, Electrify Industry’s data indicates that up to 2 million new jobs can be secured across the UK, delivering £100bn in value to local towns and cities across the country.
Companies supporting the drive to electrification included AMP Clean Energy, Siemens, Schneider, Babcock Wanson, Brush Group, Confederation of Paper Industry, Spirax Sarco, GEA, Renewable UK and Numatic.
It comes as the industry voiced concern that manufacturers were being held back from moving towards electrification from gas because of inflated electricity prices.
The price of electricity in the UK is one of the highest in the OECD – and is currently three times those in France, 60% more than in Germany, and four times the USA.
It said this was “no longer tenable”, but the UK Government is currently looking at policy options to reduce the price for companies that make the electricity switch.
Laura Sandys, Chair of Electrify Industry said:
“Getting Industrial electrification right will drive growth in UK manufacturing across the board, helping to secure Britian’s industrial future on the international stage as drivers of world-leading products.
“Grid connectivity remains a huge issue, with £3 billion of investment sitting in a queue. These are real jobs, productivity gains, companies that need to modernise all waiting for years before they get the green light to invest when they are finally able to connect.
“To make this electrification revolution a reality, electricity prices need to be competitive with other energy sources available to manufacturers and importantly other global competitors. If Britain’s industrial base is to be maintained in a meaningful way, this is a critical step which will unlock potential and growth across multiple sectors and supply chains.”
Sarah Coombes, MP for West Bromwich, who also spoke at last night’s event, added:
“As the MP for West Bromwich, I am proud to represent a constituency that is still very much a manufacturing powerhouse.
“That’s why I support the move to electrify industry, which will bring jobs and investment into the industrial heartlands of this country, as well as bolstering this government’s ambitious growth and clean power missions.”
Image of last night’s event courtesy of Electrify Industry
