Energy and Clean Growth Minister Kwasi Kwarteng has told how the Humber is absolutely central to the 海角视频’s green transition and recovery.
Addressing the final day of The Waterline Summit, where huge low and zero carbon projects seeking government support have been championed, he poured praise on the efforts of the region, describing it as a beacon for industrial clusters across the 海角视频.
In the pre-recorded video, he outlined Westminster’s stated position on Covid recovery, and told how jobs would flow.
Mr Kwarteng said: “The government is determined to build back better, build back greener and faster, and I think this moment represents a unique opportunity to create an economy that supports 海角视频 industry, while accelerating our Net Zero ambition.
“In the race to Net Zero, and in our mission to hit that target by 2050, clusters have a crucial role. It is these clusters, particularly in the Humber - and other areas - that will see the biggest push towards clean growth, towards the establishment of low carbon infrastructure and also for the provision of a wide array of employment opportunities.
“The Humber is a world leading industrial cluster and currently, today in the 海角视频, it is the largest emitter of CO2. Its history, its traditions, its culture, is steeped in engineering expertise, in entrepreneurial spirit and also in innovation, and I think all of these things mean we are extremely well placed to reduce emissions as I know you will do by 2030.”
The minister went on to reference his visits to Drax, Orsted and Siemens Gamesa’s blade plant, thanking industry leaders for the insight as he shapes the long term industrial decarbonisation strategy that he said will be published in Spring 2021, as well as a hydrogen strategy.
He said: “There is a huge range of opportunities, whether these occur through manufacturing blades for offshore wind farms, such as at Siemens Gaemesa’s facility at Hull which I had the pleasure of visiting this year, or in the trailing of bioenergy with CCS, for example, at Drax Power Station, which I have also visited. Innovations such as these, projects such as these, are really at the forefront of what we’re trying to do.”
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Turning to the huge projects with bids sitting on his desk following the recent Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund deadline, vying for a share of £170 million pot for the front end engineering and design work, he said: “I’m delighted to see the progress of projects such as Zero Carbon Humber, Humber Zero and H2H Saltend.
“The 海角视频 today, has more offshore wind capacity than any other country, the figures speak for themselves, and here in the 海角视频 we have something like 35 per cent of the total offshore wind generating capacity in the world, and this is something which we are clearly very proud of, and it is a great credit to our innovation and our manufacturing base.
“Here in the Humber we have built the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Hornsea One, and that’s something which people from all over the world are looking to as inspiration.
“Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to visit the Gigastack project in Grimsby where Orsted are working with electrolyser manufacturer ITM Power to see how offshore wind can best be deployed to create renewable hydrogen and to power the green hydrogen revolution.
“We want to make the 海角视频 a global leader in greenhouse gas removal technologies, and particularly hydrogen. I know the Humber cluster, not only through exposure to ITM possibilities, in the manufacturer and production of renewable hydrogen, but also there are huge opportunities in methane reformation and the production of blue hydrogen and that is something we are looking forward to with great anticipation.”
Mr Kwarteng outlined the funding available, with the £800 million carbon capture and storage kitty specifically highlighted, with the desire for one to be operational by 2030 - which fits with ZCH ambitions.
Closing, he said: “Looking forward I think the Humber region will establish itself as a real powerhouse as far as renewable energy is concerned, and of course it is building on its historic role as an industrial harbour. I think the Humber is absolutely central to our green transition and to the green recovery and it represents an excellent example - a beacon if you will - to many other industrial clusters across the 海角视频.
“It is absolutely vital at this difficult time of the Covid crisis that we can manage to use the expertise that you have here in the Humber to build back greener and to build back better.”