The energy and innovation clumping ground of the 18th and 19th century which developed the UK’s industrial economy was the Black Country region in Birmingham. Now, going forward in the 21st century there is a need to create a business model that’s more economically and environmentally sustainable.
In support with WMG-University of Warwick, the Black Country LEP have developed a future business model for Aluminium industry in the Black Country, stationed on the provision of low carbon energy sources, as part of a project Repowering the Black Country, which intends to make the Black Country the world’s first zero-carbon industrial cluster.
The vision of the project is to enable clean GVA growth of ?16 billion by 2030, creating or safeguarding at least 20,000 skilled jobs while appreciating the funding from Innovate UK researchers from WMG specifically looked at the Aluminium Industry in the area.
However, the researchers reports that if the Black Country Strategic Economic Plan forecasts GVA growth of ?16bn by 2030. The growth will be driven by reshoring of manufacturing from overseas and organic growth, particularly in high-value manufacturing, building, transport and environmental technology sectors where the Black Country has long-standing strengths.
If this growth simply follows the structural templates and energy practices of the past, annual CO2 emissions from the Black Country industry will almost double to 2.3mt CO2.
The delivery of green growth and meeting UK industrial strategy objectives, researchers from WMG propose that the Black Country calls to take the opportunities created by Brexit and Recovery from Covid-19 to reconfigure and repower its industrial base and create a fundamentally new economic model for the area.
Jan Godsell, Professor from WMG, University of Warwick, said: “This has been an exciting project for WMG to get involved in. By using circular supply chain principles, we’ve been able to demonstrate how re-industrialising around low carbon energy hubs in the West Midlands can help meet our net-zero carbon goal by 2050 but also create value-adding jobs for the region.”
Since the project has completed The Black Country Consortium has been awarded funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to support clean industrial growth through the Repowering the Black Country Project. This second round of funding focused on helping the UK achieve net-zero emissions as part of Government’s Clean Growth Strategy will support businesses and local authorities in developing plans for zero carbon hubs and reducing energy costs across the Black Country.
Funded by UK Research and Innovation, on behalf of the UK government, Repowering the Black Country is one of only 7 projects funded nationally focused on helping the UK achieve net zero emissions by 2050 as part of the Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge. This is a key component of the government’s Clean Growth Strategy.
Tom Westley DL, Chairman of the Black Country LEP Board said: “This funding is another step toward the Black Country putting in place plans to decarbonise our industrial supply chains and lead the way nationally for industrial clean energy. The Repowering the Black Country project is a real partnership approach to planning for the future of our world-class industrial sector.”
“This boost will enable the team to work across the Black Country with local authorities and industry to develop zero-carbon industrial estates that optimise and generate clean energy in the most efficient way. Zero carbon means lower energy bills, lower carbon emissions and commercial opportunities locally – all of which will be good news for the Black Country economy.”
Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The UK is leading the world’s green industrial revolution, with ambitious targets to decarbonise our economy and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.”
“As we continue to level up the UK economy and build back greener, we must ensure every sector is reducing carbon emissions to help us achieve our commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.”
“This funding will help key industrial areas meet the challenge of contributing to our cleaner future while maintaining their productive and competitive strengths.”
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Our region’s plan for economic recovery is all about delivering the high-paid, high skilled, ‘green’ jobs of the future. So this funding partnership is both good news for West Midlands jobs and industry, helping businesses grow while using less energy. So it’s great news for our environment.”
“The West Midlands Combined Authority has an ambitious #WM2041 plan for the region to be carbon neutral by 2041. This Government funding for clean industrial development in the Black Country will help our region build on its long history of manufacturing, building a green economy that’s good for jobs and good for the planet.”
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