Net Zero Treasury Minister Kemi Badenoch has toured key sites on the Humber that are ready to lead the greening up of traditional industry.
The region is setting itself up as the place where the biggest transformation could be seen in the fight against climate change, with support from government alongside private investment underlined as vital.
She took in Saltend Chemicals Park, where major hydrogen production and use could flourish, meeting Equinor’s team leading the project, before touring the adjacent power station.
Read more: Humber's letter of intent to major investors as Net Zero ambition goes global
The Triton plant is to switch out natural gas as part of the proposal, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 900,000 tonnes a year.
Across the river, SSE, also working with Equinor, is developing a hydrogen-fuelled power station at Keadby, and this site was taken in, as well as British Steel at Scunthorpe - the largest operation in the Zero Carbon Humber partnership.
Investing in new hydrogen industries could support thousands of new green jobs by 2030, while protecting industries that have been the backbone of the region for decades.
Mrs Badenock, following in the recent footsteps of Energy Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said: “It was fantastic to see how these world-leading projects in the East Coast Cluster are accelerating decarbonisation in the region and beyond.
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“From what I have seen in Humber and Teesside is that just a small number of organisations are beginning to make a big difference in our united effort to address climate change and deliver on our net zero target by 2050.
“Hydrogen could be an important part of this work, as well as support thousands of green jobs, and that is why we are backing it with investment to create a clean, resilient, and sustainable economic recovery from Covid-19.”
The visit follows the Chancellor’s commitment of a £240 million Net Zero Hydrogen Fund at the Spending Review 2020, which aims to kick-start low carbon hydrogen production in the 海角视频.
As part of the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, the Government has committed to deploy carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) in four industrial clusters by 2030, with the first two by the mid- 2020s. The £1 billion CCS Infrastructure Fund will help to support meeting this four cluster ambition.
The Treasury said the plan will mobilise £12 billion of government investment to create and support up to 250,000 highly-skilled green jobs in the 海角视频, and spur over three times as much private sector investment by 2030.
The Humber aims to be at the fore, with major storage projects also unveiled in recent weeks.
Alex Grant, senior vice president and 海角视频 country manager for Equinor, the lead company in the H2H Saltend plan and the wider Zero Carbon Humber ambition, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Kemi Badenoch, the Exchequer Secretary.
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“As part of the 海角视频’s East Coast Cluster, the Humber is poised to be part of the 海角视频’s, and the world’s, first net zero industrial cluster, and the birthplace of the 海角视频’s new hydrogen industry.
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“Partnership between the Treasury, the Department for Business, and industry, will bring thousands of jobs and zero carbon skills, and help make the 海角视频 a global leader in these industries of the future.”
As part of the tour the Treasury detailed how the Ten Point Plan will mobilise £12 billion of government investment to create and support up to 250,000 highly-skilled green jobs in the 海角视频, and spur over three times as much private sector investment by 2030.
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