Strong presence in the Government’s Energy White Paper has been welcomed as momentum continues to build around the Humber.
Grimsby’s role in the offshore wind industry has seen it form a case study in the hotly anticipated 170-page document, while the Gigastack project that unites Orsted with Phillips 66 - via ITM Power - is also included.
On release, Business and Energy Secretary Alok Sharma also referenced the region, stating the “海角视频 has committed to removing CO2 equivalent of all the industrial emissions in the Humber region by 2030” as part of the roll-out.
He presides over UN Climate Change Conference ‘COP26’ next year, with new year announcements on funding for huge decarbonisation projects underlined.
As part of a green industrial revolution in Covid recovery there have been strong overtures from government backed up by hard targets.
The total installed capacity for offshore wind was ramped up, then the kitty for carbon capture and storage was bolstered, with commitments to hydrogen too.
The tide began to turn for the Energy Estuary - from fossil fuel concentration to renewables - more than a decade ago, with the huge growth in offshore wind at the mouth of the Humber.
It has led to the establishment of the Offshore Wind Operations and Maintenance Centre of Excellence in Grimsby as the world leading installations in the North Sea are anchored in the port.
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With the power harnessed now being used to drive innovation in hydrogen production, it forms part of the area’s ambitions to become a low carbon “super place”.
North East Lincolnshire Council leader, Philip Jackson, said the Energy White Paper - the presentation of policy preferences ahead of introducing it in legislation - was great news for the area. “We have been working hard in North East Lincolnshire for a number of years, building our green credentials and now providing a unique place for green industries to thrive,” he said.
“The White Paper outlines ways of bringing together technologies such as offshore wind, hydrogen production and carbon capture in areas which will become “super places” in which green industries prosper.
“We have the long-term jobs in offshore wind on our patch, we have our onshore waste to energy cluster including the exciting waste to aviation fuel project, and also the MyEnergi expansion at Stallingborough.
“All of this doesn’t happen overnight – it’s through working with businesses over a number of years, and investing in the long-term, that we can make a difference and benefit in terms of jobs and the economy in North East Lincolnshire.”
Mr Jackson said the borough was fast gaining a reputation as a place to invest, develop and deploy new low carbon technologies.
“The area is becoming nationally and internationally recognised as a leading area for low-carbon energy, and is already creating and supporting a variety of skilled jobs,” he added.
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The case study charts the growth in offshore wind, the strong maritime history and wider strenghs in the energy sector, putting a figure of 650 jobs created on the O&M sector alone - Orsted with the lion's share. It also flags £90 million of investment over the next decade thanks to the Catapult.
Grimsby MP Lia Nici and Cleethorpes member Martin Vickers said: “The launch of the Energy White Paper is a significant milestone in securing our green future. This creates an opportunity for significant investment in the Humber which will provide highly skilled jobs for local people.
"We were pleased to see the White Paper use Grimsby as a case study. This is a hugely important part of the country when it comes to our energy needs and we know the future is bright for our local people as we work to build on that success.
"The £1 billion investment in state-of-the-art carbon capture storage in four industrial clusters by 2030, including the Humber, is significant and will stimulate the market to attract new investors and manufacturers to reinvigorate our industrial heartlands."
Close to the joining of the Humber tributaries, between the rivers Aire and Ouse, sits Drax - once Europe’s largest coal-fired power station. The black stuff it fed on from Immingham will be banished come March, as it pushes on with biomass.
Drax Group chief executive Will Gardiner picked up on the carbon capture it is pioneering with partners, at the start of a pan-Humber network.
He said: “I’m delighted that over the coming year the Government will establish the role of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage in reducing emissions. The Energy White Paper rightly recognises negative emissions and sustainable biomass as a vital technology to achieve net zero by 2050. Next year will be critical to build on the momentum of the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan. At Drax, we’re ready to invest in and deliver BECCS at our power station in North Yorkshire as well as in expanding our pumped storage at our hydro plant at Cruachan in Scotland. This will help meet Net Zero, whilst creating jobs, skills and demonstrating global leadership at COP26.”
Hours after the release of the Energy White Paper, Drax agreed the sale of four gas-fired plants to VPI.