Public Funding for HCF Catch Limited

The Humber Local Enterprise Partnership and membership organisation CATCH will work with industrial partners across the Humber to develop the Humber Cluster Plan (HCP) that will enable the Humber industrial cluster -- the UK's largest by carbon emissions -- to achieve net zero by 2040\. The Humber emits more CO2 than any other industrial cluster (30% more than the next largest), whilst the area is one of the most vulnerable to climate change. A quarter of the Humber's GVA and 1 in 10 jobs depend on these industries, making safeguarding their competitiveness imperative for the local economy as well as strategically important for the UK. The HCP will be informed by ongoing work on proposed industry-led decarbonisation investments and will have access to world-class industrial expertise to demonstrate how decarbonisation can be achieved at the same time as ensuring the local economy continues to thrive. The plan will provide a blueprint for clean growth to drive a green recovery in the Humber. A phased approach will prioritise near-term deliverable investments that will see quick results, significantly reducing the Humber's emissions by 2030, mapping out how CCS and hydrogen infrastructure can be scaled up over time, and identifying the full range of interventions required to achieve net zero by 2040\. HCP will also outline the potential for the Humber's industrial decarbonisation to support decarbonisation beyond the industrial cluster, including maritime in the UK's largest ports complex, road/rail transport and decarbonisation of the gas supply (25% of the UK's supply passes through the Humber). Linked opportunities and implications for renewable energy, especially BECCS and offshore wind (both of which the Humber leads on and are integral to decarbonising industry), will also be identified. Supporting UK leadership of decarbonisation technologies and the creation of local jobs and supply chains are crosscutting themes where HCP will identify future actions the Humber can take to accelerate the green recovery, including identifying opportunities for inward investing businesses and those looking to diversify to take advantage of low carbon infrastructure. HCP and the evidence base that will be assembled through its development will provide a clear way forward for industry, Government and local leaders to work together to achieve rapid decarbonisation of the UK's largest cluster, whilst maximising opportunities for local people and businesses to benefit from the transition.

Humber LEP and membership organisation CATCH will develop the Humber Industrial Decarbonisation Roadmap (HIDR), establishing the pathway for the Humber industrial cluster's carbon emissions to be net zero by 2040 and significantly reduced by 2030. The Humber cluster is concentrated around the Humber Estuary. It includes the UK's main steel production centre; two oil refineries; two major chemicals clusters; and biofuel, cement, lime and glass manufacturers. It is part of the Energy Estuary, which includes the largest offshore windfarm under construction in the world; several existing and planned gas-fired power stations; and the UK's largest biomass power station - offering the potential for blue and green hydrogen production and BECCS. The UK's largest ports complex and the UK's largest Enterprise Zone underpin the area's potential for further industrial growth. The Humber benefits from the UK's most geologically understood site for potential CO2 storage under the North Sea; the deepest UK salt deposits, ideal for hydrogen storage, already utilised for onshore gas storage; and significant natural sequestration potential around the Humber Estuary. The Humber emits more CO2 than any other industrial cluster (30% more than the next largest), whilst the area is highly vulnerable to climate change through flood risk. A quarter of Humber GVA and 1 in 10 jobs depend on these industries, making safeguarding their competitiveness imperative. Clean growth, including achieving net zero by 2040, is therefore at the centre of the Humber's Local Industrial Strategy which is due for publication shortly. Developing HIDR is identified as a critical early action. HIDR will enable large industrial emitters, low carbon infrastructure providers and other stakeholders to develop a shared approach to achieving net zero by 2040. This will break down the UK's biggest industrial decarbonisation opportunity into manageable parts, align it with wider local clean growth plans and build consensus around the actions required. This coordinated approach will reduce the barriers to developing and connecting to low carbon infrastructure, enable the Humber to engage effectively together with Government on business and regulatory models, and maximise local business and community benefits from the transition.