The **TURBO-METH project** aims to validate and demonstrate a fully integrated renewable methanol production and utilisation solution tailored for maritime applications.
It represents a collaboration led by **PuriFire Energy**, with participation from **HyperGen**, **Newcastle University**, **Shoreham Port, ORE Catapault, X-Press Feeders, and Associated British Ports (ABP),** combining cutting-edge technologies to accelerate the maritime industry's transition to low-carbon solutions.
**PuriFire** will validate its **patented hydrothermal gasification (HTG)-to-methanol technology**, which uses wet waste (carbon and water) feedstocks to produce renewable (bio)methanol directly at Shoreham Port facilities. PuriFire will modify, refine and upgrade its HTG-to-methanol system to produce biomethanol for testing with **HyperGen** Micro Gas Turbine.
PuriFire's innovative HTG process reduces feedstock requirements to **one-third** of traditional biomethanol processes, **reduces energy consumption by 30-35%** and achieves **40% lower capital expenditure** than conventional e-methanol production methods by eliminating expensive electrolysers and carbon capture systems.
In parallel, **HyperGen** will adapt its advanced Micro-Gas-Turbine (MGT) system, small jet engines coupled to **electric generators (20kW micro turbine)** known for their portability and multi-fuel capability, to run on biomethanol (produced by PuriFire), preparing for auxiliary on vessel power applications.
For this project, HyperGen's MGT system will also be modified to **showcase propulsion at Shoreham Port dry dock.**
HyperGen's turbine technology has key operational advantages, including **multi-fuel flexibility**, operating seamlessly across multiple fuel types without significant modifications, agnostic to any application, thus providing a crucial transition pathway away from traditional diesel-based piston engines.
With their simplified design featuring just one moving part, MGTs deliver **6x-10x longer operation between maintenance intervals**, reduced maintenance costs, **lower emissions of nitrous and sulphur oxides and particulates**, higher power-to-weight ratios, and notably quieter operation compared to piston generators.
**X-Press Feeders**, operating 100+ vessels, will concurrently assess the feasibility and viability of adopting PuriFire's renewable methanol as propulsion fuel for their growing fleet of dual-fuel vessels.
Port operators **Shoreham and ABP** will gain deeper insights of biomethanol logistics and bunkering for larger-scale applications, on-site production and end-user demand.
In collaboration with the **ABP and PuriFire, ORE Catapult** will provide expertise and identify the supply chain for using methanol in Offshore Service vessels and on the **scaled deployment plan at various UK Ports.**
This seven-month trial evaluates the viability, environmental benefits, and cost-effectiveness of replacing fossil fuels in maritime operations to align with global decarbonisation goals. It aims to confirm technology readiness for broader use, lower greenhouse gas emissions, improve efficiency, and support a sustainable future.
Our project, known as REACT (Real-world Evidence for Adoption of Clean Technologies) is a 7-month collaborative pre-deployment project that will deliver an AI and data driven capability to accelerate electric vessel and clean tech adoption in the commercial small boat sector.
**The partners in this project have first-hand experience of the nervousness around operators adopting clean tech in their boats. Will it have enough range? Will it last? Is it too expensive? Can I get it regulated and insured? For the UK industry to reach its potential we all need adoption to accelerate. This project proposes a fast-paced development of low cost IoT data loggers and a cloud platform to collect real world evidence along with AI-enabled tools for auto-eventing and analysing and result presentation techniques that make sense to operators. To help owners make the adopt decision, now.**
This pre-deployment project will develop and test:
* Innovative low cost IoT data logging devices that fit existing ICE vessels and electric / alternative energy vessels.
* Advanced data integration and cloud techniques to automate fusion of data from varied sources, e.g. utility companies to enable accurate real time CO2 emissions values from electricity generation and cost calculations, on the fly.
* Advanced analytic approaches providing insights to how operators actually use their vessels and how they can optimise their operation to minimise CO2 emissions.
The project will develop the logging devices, the software, the data analytics and cloud platform ready for deployment on a targeted 100 workboats in 2026\.
We have a strong and experienced team which includes :
* **RAD Propulsion Ltd** - a leading supplier and innovator in the design/production of marine electric propulsion and control systems
* **ABP Southampton -** who operate and oversee the Port of Southampton (one of the largest ports in the UK)
* **University of Plymouth** -- who have extensive experience in advanced data analysis in the marine environment and operates a fleet of research vessels and commercial work boats
* **Solis Marine Engineering Ltd** - who provides a range of specialist engineering services to the clean shipping, offshore renewables and oil and gas sectors.
The maritime sector is responsible for 3% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, and substantial air pollutants (including NOx and SOx), which can have serious impacts on human health. Ports concentrate these emissions into small areas, with up to 15% of all emissions from the maritime sector taking place at these vital logistical hubs.
Existing solutions to reduce emissions from vessels at berth are not expected to be widely available for another 10-15 years, like green fuels including hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol. With average vessel lifespans still ranging from 25 to 30 years, there is an urgent need for practical, near-term solutions to avoid costly fines and comply with increasingly stringent environmental regulations.
Seabound has developed a carbon capture and storage system housed within a modified 20ft shipping container, that traps and stores carbon in limestone pebbles, which can then be used in other industries onshore.
Seabound is partnering with barge-based emissions capture company STAX Engineering, Associated British Ports, and Lomar Labs to optimise their carbon capture technology for port-based applications and plan a full-scale deployment to achieve zero emissions in ports.
Ports are complex and always on, causing many to rely on antiquated, rigid systems that create significant wasted resources and pollution. IntelliSense.io Ltd and Associated British Ports (ABP) are working together to apply IntelliSense.io's technology solutions in Port Optimisation processes for the first time.
This Technical and Economic assessment study will allow the consortium to discover crucial pain points and potential solutions worth progressing further. This study will earmark the potential costs and energy savings for the port, including emissions reduction. The overall ambition is to create a fully AI-enabled and continuously optimised Port allowing ABP, as port operators to visualise, simulate Port Operations in real-time, predict operational performance allowing them to plan better and follow recommendations for continuous optimisation of things like scheduling, shift patterns, asset utilisation rates, avoidance of unplanned downtime, use of replacement energy sources.
Globally, 90% of everything we consume is moved by sea and the shipping industry emits around 1 billion tonnes of CO2 annually, representing about 3% of total emissions. The industry is under intense pressure to reduce emissions, but remains behind in the use of data-driven, real-time analytics to improve and streamline operations. The accurate allocation of resources at ports is a key requirement to improve this, with labour accounting for 60% of variable costs.
Port operations are undermined when there is a shortage of workers, leading to substantial delays in vessel loading and discharging operations, subsequently limiting the further supply chain. Better forecasting of port operations using data and statistics will give job allocation teams the information required to ensure that they are aware of future skill requirements and are able to maximise efficient resource utilisation. This approach will deliver faster ship turnaround times, minimise delays and deliver cost and energy reductions to reduce emissions from unnecessary fuel consumption, since ships cannot turn off power when in port.
The situation is compounded by most UK transport and logistics sectors not being digitally enabled and by difficulty in sourcing skilled staff. Labour shortages are projected to be a limiting factor in the productivity of UK ports in the years to come, so it is vitally important to improve efficiency in terms of the resources available. In the UK, the majority of port employees have said that they do not think maritime work pays enough, nor is it technologically/digitally advanced enough to attract people into the sector. Staff shortages reduce capacity and efficiency, resulting in delays at ports, exacerbating supply chain impacts. Ensemble's approach to solving these difficulties is to deliver accurate forecasting tools that can provide predictive systems for job allocations using data from scenario-based modelling. Currently, forecasting is cumbersome and lacks granularity, is slow and this results in a reactive rather than proactive approach to dealing with frequent changes in demand.
This project enhances Ensemble's Athena resource management system, which is currently being rolled out as part of an ongoing project, to utilise machine learning to analyse historical timesheet data. This will help to improve scheduling accuracy, improve job satisfaction and deliver better resource allocation. It will increase the effectiveness and functionality of our existing tools and accelerate the pace at which Athena can deliver fully effective predictive capability.
The decarbonisation of the marine sector is likely to drive a substantial surge in national electrical demand. The sector has a critical role in UK economy and supporting island communities, but is also complex, with huge diversity across ports and their stakeholders.
Seeking to address this challenge, SeaChange will:
\*build a replicable, localised model for exploring energy transition scenarios for the sector and electricity network .
\*develop a tool to understand potential maritime energy demands and considerations for optimised network investment planning
\*investigate potential business models to facilitate the transition; and
\*consider regulatory implications for critical national infrastructure.
With governments across the world committing to environmental targets, global installed offshore wind capacity is expected to reach 630GW by 2050 (McKinsey & Company). An estimated 80% of global offshore wind resource is in waters too deep for current fixed bottom foundations (Global Wind Energy Council, 2022). The Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) market is expected to grow from 0.50 GW in 2023 to 11.82 GW by 2028, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 88.62% (Mordor Intelligence).
The UK government, supported by the forthcoming 4.5GW licensing round for floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, has committed to delivering 5GW of floating offshore wind by 2030\.
To address this, Marine Power Systems will further develop their floating offshore wind platform "PelaFlex" the only floating platform developed by a native Southwest Wales company and the most advanced UK-based FLOW technology to further optimise structural efficiency and manufacturability.
Marine Power Systems will focus on the development of the next generation of PelaFlex to significantly enhance:
* structural efficiency, paying particular attention to the challenging Celtic Sea conditions whilst minimising material use and cost.
* use of strip steel manufactured in Port Talbot
* use of panel-fabricated components, allowing fabrication by local suppliers
* assembly process to reduce quayside requirements, facilitating roll-out at existing ports.
Alongside this, Marine Power Systems are harnessing the expertise available in Southwest Wales, working with Swansea University, Ledwood, Tata Steel UK, ABP Port Talbot and the Port of Milford Haven. This collaborative approach will help position the Southwest Wales supply chain as an integral part in the roll-out of floating offshore wind to the Celtic Sea.
Since the first known examples of grain storage dating back to ~11,000 years ago in the Jordan valley, the process of storing grain (e.g. whole wheat/barley/oilseeds in sheds and silos) has been a critical part of the agriculture industry, essential to preserving the grain's quality and value, as well as to bridge the gap between harvest and its subsequent use.
There is an unmet need in the grain storage industry to reduce absolute and quality losses (\>20%) and improve the health and safety of grain storage operations, as farmers and grain storage operators are still forced to walk on dangerous grain bulks to monitor and inspect grain.
The objective of this project, a partnership between Crover Ltd, Associated British Ports, Camgrain, Holkham Farming Company, and Morley Farms, is to create the first robotic device able to safely and autonomously implement IPM practices for on-farm storage and that can go beyond the farm gate by replacing current, labour intensive and risky, grain storage monitoring and inspection solutions. The CROVER robot will provide, throughout the whole mid-stream of the grain value chain, in grain sheds/silos/lorries/cargos, high resolution data and environmental condition control that will aid the data-driven decision-making approach that is at the base of a successful IPM strategy.
This will provide farmers, grain storage operators, traders and transportation companies with a tool to efficiently and remotely monitor and maintain the quality of grain bulks, hence enabling them to reduce grain claims/rejection, improve the health and safety of their operations, detect potential spoilage, and allowing proactive management to reduce losses and maintain grain quality.
The project is made possible by Crover's proprietary technology for locomotion in bulk solids (e.g. sand, grains, powders) and it is based around the CROVER robot: the world's first 'granular drone', in the sense of a device able to move through bulk solids and powders.
The project is a partnership between a very strong consortium made of:
* Crover Ltd (technology provider)
* Associated British Ports (the UK's leading port operator, with 21 on-port storage sites across the country)
* Camgrain (the largest cereals and oilseeds cooperative and grain storage operator in Cambridgeshire and the UK's only farmer-owned network of APC (Advanced Processing Centre) central stores)
* Holkham Farming Company
* Morley Farms
who will be working together to develop, test and share the project's outputs and maximise its societal benefits.
Our vision for the future of UK infrastructure encompasses fleets of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) powered by renewable energy to deliver more efficient applications and processes in high cost areas such as search and rescue and highway maintenance, whilst reducing the economic impact currently caused by interruptions such as road closures. Additionally, using UAS in such operations can significantly reduce their carbon footprint. This vision will be delivered by 2025 at scale.
The InDePTH project will investigate the use of autonomous drones to deliver this vision. The aircraft will be used to regularly survey wide infrastructure estates, including ports and highways, to create digital models and obtain detailed insight of these dynamic environments. InDePTH will utilise onboard sensing, data and image processing equipment to autonomous drones, currently available as drone-in-a-box (DIAB) solutions.
Current DIAB offerings include mission-tailored sensing equipment and minimal human input and supervision but lack end-to-end and real-time data analytics integration. DIAB solutions today require lengthy manual data offloading after missions, making real-time analytics impossible. Another constraint of current DIAB solutions is that data offloading is typically not fully integrated with analytics software, requiring the use of cloud-based data lakes.
The project aims at fast-tracking data transport while providing enhanced AI analytics near real-time. InDePTH will augment the drone data analytics using state-of-the-art machine learning (ML) algorithms developed by RoboK, creating optimised image processing aiming at modelling environments to a 3D digital twin. BT will provide secure and fast data transport equipment by exploring the use of fast and reliable 5G and fibre links to transmit DIAB data with low latency.
Three demonstrators will be developed to support critical use cases for Associated British Ports (ABP) and Kier Highways. Port and highway environments change rapidly due to constant movement of people ,vehicles and goods. For ports, two key use cases are identified: InDePTH will investigate the use of UAS to improve inventory management for ABP ports, focusing on vehicle inventory; furthermore, ABP will use drones in their off-shore surveillance and maritime operations in the second project demonstrator. Thirdly, in the highways area, InDePTH will look at deploying UAS to continuously assess the ground surface quality of highways, for Kier.
Our vision for the future of UK infrastructure encompasses fleets of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) powered by renewable energy to deliver more efficient applications and processes in high cost areas such as search and rescue and highway maintenance, whilst reducing the economic impact currently caused by interruptions such as road closures. Additionally, using UAS in such operations can significantly reduce their carbon footprint. This vision will be delivered by 2025 at scale.
The InDePTH project will investigate the use of autonomous drones to deliver this vision. The aircraft will be used to regularly survey wide infrastructure estates, including ports and highways, to create digital models and obtain detailed insight of these dynamic environments. InDePTH will utilise onboard sensing, data and image processing equipment to autonomous drones, currently available as drone-in-a-box (DIAB) solutions.
Current DIAB offerings include mission-tailored sensing equipment and minimal human input and supervision but lack end-to-end and real-time data analytics integration. DIAB solutions today require lengthy manual data offloading after missions, making real-time analytics impossible. Another constraint of current DIAB solutions is that data offloading is typically not fully integrated with analytics software, requiring the use of cloud-based data lakes.
The project aims at fast-tracking data transport while providing enhanced AI analytics near real-time. InDePTH will augment the drone data analytics using state-of-the-art machine learning (ML) algorithms developed by RoboK, creating optimised image processing aiming at modelling environments to a 3D digital twin. BT will provide secure and fast data transport equipment by exploring the use of fast and reliable 5G and fibre links to transmit DIAB data with low latency.
Three demonstrators will be developed to support critical use cases for Associated British Ports (ABP) and Kier Highways. Port and highway environments change rapidly due to constant movement of people ,vehicles and goods. For ports, two key use cases are identified: InDePTH will investigate the use of UAS to improve inventory management for ABP ports, focusing on vehicle inventory; furthermore, ABP will use drones in their off-shore surveillance and maritime operations in the second project demonstrator. Thirdly, in the highways area, InDePTH will look at deploying UAS to continuously assess the ground surface quality of highways, for Kier.
The project will conduct a high-quality feasibility study that, informing a business case for infrastructure-investment in Zero-Emission(ZE) Fuels/charging-infrastructure at the Port of Grimsby, at the same time as investment in operational programmes of work that will establish Grimsby as a national Clean Maritime Demonstration Hub (CMDH).
Commercial ethos
Harnessing the 'industry-pull' of the offshore wind industry as a 'springboard' for the adoption of clean maritime technologies (DfT,Innovation Roadmap for Offshore Wind,2021), the project-team will undertake detailed feasibility to identify the infrastructure requirements to support clean maritime operations from the port.
This will include ZE-Fuel production, compression, storage, fuelling, metering and distribution infrastructure, as well as onshore and offshore electrical-charging capability.
The project will include a detailed demand-analysis for ZE-Fuels/charging infrastructure, to which design concepts will then be tailored, with escalation plans for the gradual scaling of production in line with rising demand for alternative maritime fuels.
ZE-fuel / power offtakers in the offshore renewables industry are anticipated early-adopters. Meanwhile, other maritime operators across the broader Humber and other UK East-Coast catchments will be canvassed and included in the demand-analysis to maximise scalability.
Socio-economic 'value added' Impact
As well as providing a business case for ZE-fuel and maritime electrical-charging systems on commercial basis, the feasibility study will also identify the operating model for a 'wrap-around' demonstration, training and acceleration eco-system, providing a unique facility for open-access demonstration and certification of clean maritime technology. This will include:
* Open access ZE-fuelling, infrastructure and analysis facilities for ZE-fuel system demonstration, validation and certification
* The development and delivery of dedicated open-access training in the use of ZE-fuelling systems by port-technicians and vessel-crews;
* A joint-industry working-group, including regulators and class societies to support the rapid acceleration, demonstration and certification of very-high TRL clean-maritime innovation
* Access to specialist investment community with an investment review group made up of angel, VC, grant and loan investment bodies
The feasibility will lay the blueprint for this unique national demonstration asset, harnessing the potential of the offshore wind industry to act as a 'springboard' for clean-maritime innovation in the UK. The result will be 'investment-ready' port-fuelling infrastructure and world-leading demonstration and certification support capability.
This scale of demonstration will have the critical mass of industrial partners, and the long-term strategic approach required to bring together stakeholders from across the public and private-sector to work in partnership to break the 'chicken and egg' impasse which stymies the rapid expedition of clean-maritime transition.
The project is a collaboration between Associated British Ports (ABP), Siemens Energy UK (SEU), Toyota Tsusho UK (TTUK), Uniper Technologies UK (UTL) and Uniper Hydrogen UK (UHU), to realise the potential of a green hydrogen supply to the Port of Immingham (PoI) for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction of port operations and shipping.
Thereby, a solution for GHG reduction is targeted, that is both scalable within the PoI and replicable in other ports around the UK and internationally.
The PoI, located in the Humber Industrial Cluster, is the UK's largest port by tonnage, handling over 54Mt of cargo annually. For the energy transition, the port has taken steps to electrify some small port equipment. However, electrification is not (technically/economically) viable for all operations and the sector continues to rely on fossil fuels. Hydrogen and its derivatives, such as ammonia, are credible and exciting alternatives to fossil fuels, promising carbon neutral processes in the sector. However, a lack of secure and affordable hydrogen supply within ports means conversion to low emission hydrogen-based fuels is not currently a bankable solution.
The study will assess the technical and economic feasibility of a green hydrogen supply to the PoI, incorporating the full hydrogen value chain from production by electrolysis, storage and transport, to direct end use and ammonia conversion. The project will explore the potential of hydrogen fuel cell port equipment such as cranes, reach stackers, yard tractors etc., and ammonia production for clean shipping fuel.
If deployed, it would be the first of a kind. The study will build on the results of a 6 month "discovery phase", that assessed options for decarbonisation of operations in and around the PoI and developed a roadmap for delivery. This developed the concept to supply, in an initial phase, c.20MW of green hydrogen to the PoI. The feasibility study will determine the most economic location for siting the electrolyser; Uniper's Killingholme site or a suitable location within the PoI (both locations were identified to be attractive options during the discovery phase).To prove this concept and prepare for deployment, the feasibility study of the innovative concept is required. Besides detailed information of the components and the concept itself, the study will reveal additional opportunities and risks.
The results will be of significant benefit for the decarbonisation of the maritime sector and will enable further commitment to the delivery of such a solution at the PoI by all parties.
The Zero Carbon Humber Partnership (ZCH) has brought together world-leading organisations with a goal to turn the Humber, the UK's most carbon-intensive region, into a net zero cluster by 2040\.
ZCH will deliver first-of-a-kind low-carbon infrastructure, comprising CO2 and hydrogen transmission pipelines linking the region's major emitters, providing a pathway to deliver at-scale decarbonisation. The infrastructure will be anchored by the H2H-Saltend project (reducing emissions by ~1Mtpa) and will unlock further private sector investment in mature deep decarbonisation projects, enabling the transition to net-zero before 2040\. This infrastructure enables Hydrogen production/CO2 capture at Uniper's site in Immingham (c.7Mtpa), clean steel production at British Steel (2-4Mtpa), SSE Keadby-3CCGT+CCS (c.2Mtpa) and Bioenergy-with-CCUS (BECCS) at Drax (16Mtpa). Collectively these projects will transform this industrial heartland, safeguarding and creating jobs as the 'Energy Estuary' transitions to net-zero.
The low-carbon infrastructure's parallel CO2 and H2 pipelines will enable CO2 emissions to be captured and transported and fuel-switching of end-users to hydrogen for a long-term sustainable transition to low-carbon energy. The onshore infrastructure will be linked to the 'Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP)' offshore project providing CO2 transport and geological storage for both Humber and Teesside clusters (together over 50% of UK Industrial Cluster emissions (15.5Mtpa)). This aligns with UK government's ambition and the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) recommendations, having at least two clusters storing 10Mtpa of CO2 by 2030 and Government's ambition to reach 20Mtpa by 2035 progressing towards the deployment levels required by 2050\.
Anchoring the infrastructure is the H2H-Saltend project which, in-line with Government's ambitions, will kick-start large-scale low-carbon hydrogen deployment. H2H-Saltend will develop a blue hydrogen production facility (600MW), providing hydrogen to fuel-switch Saltend Chemicals Park, reducing emissions by circa 1.0Mtpa. The fuel switch will include Triton's CHP station, decarbonising power and steam to the Chemicals Park, whilst fuel-switching another large user on the site. Additionally, H2H-Saltend will develop a low-carbon ammonia export product and partially decarbonise all other products produced on-site. This will position the UK at the forefront of the expanding international low-carbon products market.
The project will be led by Equinor, Europe's leading CCUS operator, and National Grid. These partners will be joined by Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, ABP, British Steel, Centrica Storage Limited, Drax Group, Mitsubishi Power, px limited, SSE Thermal, Saltend Cogeneration Company Limited and Uniper. ZCH aims to take a Final Investment Decision before March 2024, and be operational in 2026-27\.
The South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC) is a diverse mix of critical industry from the Pembrokeshire coastline to the Welsh/English border. They have converged with common objectives for decarbonisation and clean growth. Some of the sectors represented include:
§Steel making§Oil Refining§Power§Nickel manufacturing§Insulation manufacturing§Chemical§LNG import§The Royal Mint§Whole host of general manufacturing
SWIC Deployment will create pathways and opportunities to promote Wales as a leading global player in decarbonised industrial and economic growth.
SWIC's goal is Net Zero Carbon (NZC) by 2040\. Regional CO2 emissions are 16 million tonnes annually (5% of UK total), comprising 10 million tonnes direct from industry and 6 million tonnes 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". This will be achieved through sustainable clean growth, within a globally-competitive market, maintaining a growing and diverse industrial sector region, which will potentially protect 103,000+ existing jobs. There is potential to grow this number through export of skills and services globally, from a centre of green excellence.
SWIC will devise options to support regional hydrogen deployment and to develop Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (as an interim measure). It will nurture symbiosis between industry, cities/towns, transport, and agriculture.
It will appraise solutions and select those that have the greatest impact to economic CO2 emission reduction. Deployment will define Partner project scopes to support investment decisions that will advance projects towards construction. The pooled expertise of the deployment Partners and broader SWIC membership will ensure arrival at the best solutions for deriving significant carbon reduction.
SWIC, through ongoing engagement, is actively supported by Welsh Government. There is also support for SWIC by local authorities, which aim to ensure that they can provide the necessary jobs to protect the future of their communities. SWIC is actively working with other UK cluster regions to optimise decarbonisation outcomes.
SWIC Deployment will provide the UK with lower carbon steel and reduced carbon cement products that form the backbone of the wider UK Infrastructure Industry.
Costain is leading the project, supported by a wide breadth of key Partners. Phase2 represents an opportunity to integrate efforts, reinforce a direction and to further scope/define the action required to achieve the SWIC vision.
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.
Awaiting Public Project Summary