The Humber is advancing the government’s grand challenge on clean growth and aiming to be a world leader.
Executive director of the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, Richard Kendall, has given an in-depth insight into area’s emerging Local Industrial Strategy, as it is prepared for final submission in the coming weeks.
Accelerated because of the crisis that hit British Steel earlier this summer, that very fact underlines a key message that is emerging to support the huge carbon capture and storage (CCS) solution for the region, as it offers the dual opportunity to protect vital industry and pioneer green solutions.
Mr Kendall was addressing the Humber Clean Growth Conference at Catch, brought forward by the industry organisation together with the Energy Institute.
He said: “Climate change is more of an issue for the Humber than most. We are a high carbon economy – we shouldn’t be embarrassed by that – industries here that are high carbon produce products society needs and are vital for low carbon products and services.
“We are signing up to the target to say we are going to back net zero carbon as a whole economy by 2040, and in doing that it is absolutely vital that we are protecting strategically important industries and that we can maximise value for local communities in this transition. It is not in any way about shutting anything down, it is about making it sustainable.
“It is far better to be ahead of the chain and make them sustainable. We need to be ambitious as a country and as a region, and we are putting ourselves forward for that.”
The LEP is a key partner in Zero Carbon Humber, with Drax, Equinor and National Grid Ventures looking to bring forward CCS. It is seeking government backing to be the lead project.
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“There are only a handful of clusters like is in this country, and we are the biggest, but there are others in the world and we can trade knowledge if we become a global leader in this.” Mr Kendall said.
“This region has the greatest potential for doing this. We get far more for your investment here and that’s the case we are making to government, that this has to happen in this region.”
The strategy also includes developing the Humber ports and manufacturing cluster through embracing engineering, assembly and food, and a knowledge economy based on technology, research and development and professional services – which is emerging.
Introducing the work that has been his focus within the LEP, Mr Kendall said: “It is really important it is led by business and ambitions of the area, and builds on he successes we have had. We are not tearing up strategies we have had before, it is a continuation of the Energy Estuary concept we have had for the last few years.
“It is a really strange time to be building a long term strategy, but not withstanding the political and economic situation, it is an opportunity to be one of the first to put our plan on the national agenda.
“Governments have been somewhat location blind, as long as a sector has been growing in the 海角视频 it has been fine. Having recognition this is the place to be for energy is really important. The grand challenge that is key for us is clean growth. It has been the story of the last few years and is the strategy we are developing.”
The senior figure, who has been with the LEP from the outset, having served Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce previously, said it was time to be bold.
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“As a country we have been very good at decarbonising the power sector,” he said. “This area plays a leading part with offshore wind. If this area is going to be known for this then lets throw everything at it. It is a really ambitious agenda, a lot of effort, we are trying to become a model for the world.
“The Offshore Wind Sector Deal sets the agenda and it is going to increase tremendously. When you look at Round Four bidding maps, the areas are vast, and right off the Humber. It couldn’t be more central to it. The Humber is incredibly well placed to take advantage.
“We have the location, land, ports, skills and existing cluster. Operations and maintenance is a particular focus, there is room for more manufacturing but you cannot base your entire strategy on one or two golden eggs, when you are competing with the whole of the East Coast, Denmark and Germany.
“It is really important for this region to build on a platform it already has. That could be a national, European or global centre of excellence for operations and maintenance in future.”
October should see the submission, with final tweaks now being made.
“Discussions with government have been very encouraging,” Mr Kendall said. “It is probably the most ambitious strategy and approach to future growth we have had. We have got to rise to the challenge.”
Enthused about the decarbonisation agenda, host David Talbot suggested teenage climate emergency activist Greta Thunberg would have been better placed in Stallingborough than Stateside.
The chief executive of Catch, the member organisation that represents the process and energy industries across the Yokrshire and Humber from the beacon training facility base, said: “We are by tonne the biggest emitter of CO2 in the 海角视频 as a cluster, and we are the Energy Estuary.
“We have every form of energy apart from nuclear, two refineries, British Steel and a chemical sector right round the Humber region.
“We are the right place, at the right time with a will in this region to really make a difference. Greta should have been here rather than at the United Nations.”
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