Government funding to help industry reach net zero

12 winners from the Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plan competition have been announced, with each set to benefit from a share of up to £6 million to develop plans for a low carbon future.

The money will give the competition winners the chance to work together on plans to cut their emissions, learning from each other while also having access to technical advisors to prepare for adopting measures such as using hydrogen or carbon capture.

The money will be targeted at projects outside of the UK’s major industrial areas, with figures showing that companies in dispersed locations away from industrial heartlands account for 55% of the country’s industrial emissions.

One of the winners, Shoreham Port Industrial Cluster, an established cluster with 175 businesses based on a 110-acre site, will explore ways to reduce emissions and improve local air quality by working with local councils.

Decarbonising the Midlands Aerospace Cluster (DMAC) will work with key players in the region’s aerospace supply chain, to identify manufacturing processes that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and potential solutions.

Minister for energy efficiency and green finance Lord Callanan said: "From manufacturing chemicals to food and drink, UK industry is at the heart of our economy.

"With over £190 million available for businesses to make the move to cleaner, cheaper energy – and with 12 projects benefiting directly today – we are delivering the support they need to decarbonise.

"I look forward to seeing the plans developed by the successful clusters and encourage other businesses to apply to our Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, which has already made awards to over 150 projects to help companies go green."

Shoreham Port Industrial Cluster LIDP

Tom Willis, Chief Executive of Shoreham Port, said: "We are delighted that the Shoreham Port Industrial Cluster has been successful in the Local Decarbonisation Plans Competition and will receive a portion of the £6 million awarded by the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero in partnership with Innovate UK. As a Trust Port, collaborative relationships with local, educational, and business communities remain key to our success. This funding will support us to create a tangible plan to decarbonise our Cluster, enabling us to act as a catalyst for regional emission reduction."