AS it works towards its own carbon-neutral future by investing in solar farms, Warrington Borough Council has welcomed new plans to decarbonise industry and help make the North West the UK’s first net-zero region.
Joined by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Rt. Hon. Kwasi Kwarteng MP, a collaboration of industry leaders has launched the Net Zero North West manifesto, which outlines a series of actions needed to supercharge the green industrial revolution.
The report, produced by Siemens UK, showcases a £200 billion investment pipeline for the region as part of a coordinated effort to decarbonise industry and make the North West the UK’s first net zero region by 2040. This has the potential to save over 38 mega-tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, generate £285 billion GVA and safeguard or create over 660,000 jobs.
With industry accounting for around a quarter of CO2 emissions in the UK, the manifesto sets out a number of policy asks to Government that will accelerate industrial decarbonisation. These include:
• Leading hydrogen and carbon capture project, HyNet North West, to be selected as a ‘track 1’ cluster in the upcoming carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) sequencing competition. Hynet can deliver over three-quarters of the Government’s 2030 target for hydrogen production, 100% of the target for CO2, and with Government support could be operational as early as 2025.
• Changes to local energy regulation citing how the North West’s blueprint for a decentralised low carbon energy system, or Smartgrid, in the area around Ellesmere Port in Cheshire, could deliver cheaper and cleaner energy for power, heating and transport.
• A Government review of its environmental taxation, gas charging and carbon pricing regimes, to help ensure the UK’s energy-intensive industries remain globally competitive throughout their decarbonisation journey
• A resilient ‘circular economy’, including more consistent kerbside collection schemes, the roll out of digital Deposit Return Schemes and supporting end of life plastics as a ‘recycled carbon fuel’ for buses, cars and HGVs.
Warrington Borough Council is investing in its own carbon neutral future, through the completion of two solar farms, in York and Hull, and work underway on a third solar farm, in Cirencester. Together, these are enabling the Council to generate and supply all of its own green energy, supporting the local authority’s climate emergency work and its commitment to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2030.
The Council’s Cabinet Member for environment, housing and public protection, Cllr Hitesh Patel, said: “We welcome the publication of this manifesto and its ambitions for industrial decarbonisation. It’s an important, collaborative step in achieving real change – for the region, and for the country.
“In Warrington, we are making huge strides forward in our aims to become one of the first net-zero local authorities, by 2030, supported by our climate emergency and ecological emergency declarations.
“Through our own Climate Emergency Commission, we are driving forward the carbon-neutral agenda, and leading the way in delivering innovative projects to tackle the climate emergency. This includes our investment in solar farms to enable us to produce our own green energy, and our work, through our Local Transport Plan, to reduce congestion and car reliance and increase the use of more sustainable modes of travel.
“The Net Zero North West manifesto sets out to Government how our region can play a key role in the green industrial revolution. It provides a clear vision for how, with the right investment, we can accelerate the fantastic work that is already going on here.”
Net Zero North West’s Manifesto can be accessed on the Net Zero North West website netzeronw.co.uk
