Major new scheme to decarbonise Black Country industries

AN INITIATIVE aimed at decarbonising industry in the Black Country has been launched to coincide with the end of the COP26 Climate Change Conference.

The Black Country Industrial Decarbonisation Programme will support businesses to take advantage of global clean growth opportunities and to make the transition to a net zero industrial future.

It was launched last Friday by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street and the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) at a manufacturing facility, Servosteel, in Dudley.

The programme will be delivered via Repowering the Black Country, a programme of initiatives supporting businesses, and will initially develop four pilot zero carbon industrial hubs in the Black Country.

Over 10 years it aims to reduce industrial carbon emissions by around 1.3M tCO2 while keeping Black Country energy costs competitive and attracting high quality manufacturing jobs to the region.

Matthew Rhodes, project director for Repowering the Black Country, said: “This project is critical to maintaining and growing a competitive manufacturing base in the Black Country for the 21st century.

“We need to adapt our infrastructure to the clean future set out by governments worldwide at COP26 in Glasgow, and to ensure our industry is ready to seize the opportunities for clean growth created by the transition to a zero-carbon world.”

His comments were backed up by the mayor. Mr Street said: “This is an important programme for the West Midlands and the UK as a whole as we look to tackle the climate emergency.

“I’ve just returned from COP26 where I’ve been talking about the opportunity for green industries to transform industrial heartlands like the West Midlands – and this programme is a case in point.

“I’m delighted to see the Black Country at the forefront of our efforts to respond to the climate crisis, and Repowering the Black Country shows that we can create jobs and opportunities through decarbonisation.”

Mark Anderson, director at Servosteel, Dudley, added: “Servosteel was delighted to be invited to join this programme because the transition to a zero-carbon economy creates significant challenges and opportunities for all businesses.

“By working with Repowering the Black Country team, we are getting a head start in accessing the markets of the future and keeping our energy costs low. We all need to work together to ensure we can survive and prosper through this climate challenge.”