Public Funding for Western Bio-Energy Ltd

The South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC) is a diverse mix of critical industry that have come together to collaboratively achieve common objectives for decarbonisation and clean growth delivering job security. The regions diverse industrial base presents both common and unique challenges. Sectors represented include steel/oil-refining/power/ paper/Nickel/insulation/chemicals/LNG import/Royal-Mint/general-manufacturing. SWIC aims to progress a cluster plan driven by a vision of "developing a world leading truly sustainable industry befitting the societal needs of 2030, 2040, 2050 and beyond" incorporating a circular economy revolution leading to a smarter, greener, and healthier society. SWIC's goal is NZC by 2040\. Current carbon emissions are 16MtCO2/y (5% of UK emissions), comprising 10MTCO2/y direct from industry and 6MTCO2/y from power generation. Achieving NZC will provide a significant contribution to the UK's goal of becoming net zero by 2050\. NZC must be realised in the broader context of 'People, Planet and Profit', achieving truly sustainable clean growth, within a globally competitive market, maintaining a growing, clean vibrant and diverse industrial sector region with potentially 40,000+ new jobs arising. The Phase-2 work will continue to define NZC options for all types of members including two of the largest industrial UK CO2 emitters plus many other large emitting sites from diverse sectors spread across the whole region. Phase2 will identify the best low carbon energy options that will work for multiple industry users and define distinctive 'mini-clusters' in the region. This will inform and assist planning for significant local and regional infrastructure. The 4 coastal 'mini-clusters' will connect the largest CO2 emitters, creating opportunities for carbon capture and use in addition connections to UK carbon storage facilities. Low carbon energy infrastructure including renewables and hydrogen will also be developed. (Q3-appendix). SWIC Plans centre around a 5 stepped approach to NZC, 5 spatial zone types will allow SWIC to take immediate steps toward NZC with a low chance of incurring "Regret Capital". As well as targeting a NZC cluster by 2040, this plan focuses on societal needs, circular economy and clean growth aspirations of the region, tackling the common and unique commercial & operational challenges facing SW industry. SWIC will work with other UK cluster regions to optimise decarbonisation outcomes. Specialist energy consultancy CR Plus are leading the project supported by a wide breadth 20+ key partners. Phase2 represents an opportunity to coalesce efforts, cement a direction and to further scope and define the action required to achieve the SWIC vision.

Covid-19 has impacted many sectors; one such sector is the waste management and recycling industry. The amount of waste generated by households in the 'first wave' of the pandemic has increased significantly, whilst the collection of recyclables has been suspended by many local authorities. The current waste management and recycling sector struggles to efficiently cope with changes in waste volumes and composition. In parallel there are calls for a 'green recovery' for the UK, with waste management, recycling and renewable energy at the forefront of the much-needed transformation. The ReSuB (Renewable & Sustainable Biomass) project responds to both these challenges. The project will demonstrate and develop new value chains and markets for recycled paper, simultaneously supporting the UK's growing renewable energy industry. Fiberight has developed an innovative circular economy solution to create value-added products from residual waste, which is typically landfilled or incinerated. The ReSuB project will demonstrate the recovery of pulp from residual waste and the manufacture of products for the biomass fuels market. This market is actively searching for alternative products to current wood-based materials due to shortage of supply and therefore increasing costs. The project will carry out market testing with a biomass plant producing electricity. The ReSuB project will generate significant positive environmental impacts by diverting recyclable waste from landfill, by recovering valuable materials to be used again, by displacing virgin materials and helping to combat climate change. There will also be wider advantages of developing UK industry, with associated job creation and wider socio-economic benefits.