A plan to reduce industrial emissions across Portbury, Avonmouth and Severnside has been launched. The group behind the proposals is hoping the initiative will help the region transition to net zero while contributing £3.5bn to the local economy by 2040.
The West of England Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan is being led by the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) with support from universities, local authorities and businesses.
It has been suggested the delivery of the plan could create more than 15,000 new employment opportunities.
“This is an important report for the West of England,” said Stephen Peacock, chief executive of Weca. “Our Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan shows us the way to creating more well-paid jobs, while reducing our impact on the planet. It makes a credible case for further investment in our region to decarbonise some of our most energy- intensive industries while continuing to grow our economy.”
The plan is being funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero via Innovate Ƶ, and delivered by the West of England Industrial Cluster - an consortium of private, public and third-sector organisations.
The region it covers encompasses three local authorities and includes the Port of Bristol, Seabank Power Station and more than 800 businesses.
“The business community has been instrumental in developing this plan and will continue to play an important role in its implementation,” said Kate Royston, director at SevernNet, a not for-profit social enterprise that forms part of the cluster.
“We have already established a strong network of expertise and hope to expand this even further going forward to ensure that all sectors and communities have a voice in making local industry more sustainable and our local businesses to thrive in a low carbon circular economy.”
According to those behind the plan, a range of activities have taken place over the past year to inform the proposals, including gathering emissions data and carrying out emission reduction forecasting.
The plan's approach includes carbon capture, storage and use; clean power and alternative fuels; and energy efficiency and the circular economy.
Like this story? Why not sign up to get the latest South West business news straight to your inbox.
