The Midlands Net Zero Hub has awarded grant funding to five local authorities in the region to develop decarbonisation plans for industrial zones.
The Industrial Zones Decarbonisation Project was created by the Hub and funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to support councils in the Midlands to develop decarbonisation plans for industrial and commercial sites.
The funding will be used by the local authorities to investigate opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and overcome barriers to getting projects moving.
Cash for Boston Borough Council will be used on the Boston Cluster Initiative includes plans for pooling investment in renewable energy generation, EV charging infrastructure, heat decarbonisation, battery storage with microgrids, a localised heat network and other energy measures.
Dudley Metropolitan Council will use money for a roadmap for decarbonisation focussing on their identified industrial zone as part of the wider ‘Net Zero Neighbourhoods’ programme and in line with their local net zero targets.
In addition Redditch Borough Council will create a project to support the Worcestershire Energy Strategy which will look at how to maximise opportunities while addressing key challenges and constraints for decarbonising the industrial and commercial sectors, which can then be replicated throughout the county.
Staffordshire County Council focusses on The Midlands Growth Corridor (A50/500) and looks to enhance established partnerships while building new ones between the public sector, academia, and major businesses along the corridor to accelerate clean energy technology, including hydrogen.
A scheme for Worcester City Council has evaluated the city as one cluster, and focuses on the industrial manufacturing sector, which is spread across the relatively small urban boundary of the city. The study will work closely with identified partners to develop an action plan and project pipeline for place-based solutions facilitating and accelerating the decarbonisation of industry in Worcester.
Jack Hayhoe, Head of Net Zero Programmes at Midlands Net Zero Hub, said:
“I would like to congratulate the successful applicants of the Industrial Zones Decarbonisation Project. We know that industry can be a challenging sector to decarbonise, so we are pleased to support local authorities in the region to partner with organisations to develop strategies to reach net zero.
“We look forward to seeing the results of these projects, which can be used as a blueprint for other industrial and commercial zones in the Midlands.”
Image courtesy of Midlands Net Zero Hub
