Cumbria has a central role to play in the country’s net zero future and in the government’s ambitious targets of making the UK net zero by 2050.
Despite having less than 1% of the country’s population we contribute significantly to renewable generation and capacity, producing around 5.6% of all UK electricity generation (GWh).
We have one of the biggest protected landscapes and through innovative businesses in Cumbria are embracing the green revolution, with the county making great strides forward.
Clean energy production and decarbonisation
The LEP is a business-led organisation and as such is focused on serious plans to deliver net zero, focused on two priorities; embracing the development of new clean, sustainable energy production and supporting our businesses to decarbonise.
The county will border the Morecambe Net Zero (MNZ) Cluster, which has the potential to become one the UK’s biggest carbon storage and hydrogen production facilities, creating a facility that could store up to three years of the UK’s emissions.
Heralded by our Chair Lord Inglewood as an exceptional opportunity with massive potential to deliver both the region’s and the UK net zero ambitions the project will also drive jobs and private investment.
And there are other major projects driving carbon neutrality and climate resilience in our county including Barrow Green Hydrogen.
The first of its kind in Cumbria, the plant is set to begin commercial operations in 2025 supplying green hydrogen to international manufacturer Kimberley-Clark.
On the decarbonisation front, businesses large and small are taking action with many taking advantage of our Innovating for Success Programme to deploy solar PV and other innovating low carbon solutions.
But this isn’t the only reason why we believe we can be the first net zero county.
People and businesses can make it happen
We believe it’s the collective voice and action of thousands of people and businesses across the county that will make it happen.
In September, the two new Cumbrian Local Authorities; Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness came together with the LEP for our “Cumbria – Leading the Way to Net Zero” event.
Over 200 delegates spanning business, local government and other key stakeholders joined us at Carlisle Racecourse to hear from local leaders, businesses, and community groups about Cumbria’s net zero ambitions and real case studies outlining how progress is being made.
- The Department of Energy Security and the North West Net Zero Hub set out plans for heat network zoning for urbans area like Carlisle and within public sector building schemes.
- Workington and Barrow were singled out in the role our main ports can play in supporting our offshore wind industry and attracting clean energy industries in.
And the afternoon saw attention turn to the critical role of business in realising net zero, including:
- Solway Community Power making the case for a small modular nuclear reactor to return to Cumbria through a community/private investment partnership and,
- Holmen Iggesund, a Workington based paper mill discussing the potential to utilise waste heat from their industrial process in a heat network and,
- Lakeland free range egg Company talking about their serious commitment to decarbonisation and the support that had been provided through the LEP’s Innovating for Success programme.
The case studies provided an insight in to the innovative and ambitious mindset of the county’s businesses, from small to large, and reinforced that private sector investment will help deliver jobs, growth, and decarbonisation.
In my job I get to attend a fair few of these events but from a personal perspective I had so many positive conversations that it was refreshing to see a passion and genuine drive for action across Cumbria.
Despite the huge challenges with financial pressures particularly in the public sector and sometimes lack of clarity in government policy it was great to hear that people and businesses remain seriously committed to this agenda.
There was also a strong commitment for collaborative working in the future with political and business leaders aligned and visible and accountable to each other.
And we as the LEP will do all we can to help the county and support businesses on clean energy growth and decarbonisation. By working together, I have no doubt we can trailblaze a route to become England’s first net zero county.
