SWIC: Putting South Wales at the heart of the nation’s decarbonising journey

INDUSTRY Inform.

Newport Transporter Bridge, Newport, South Wales, Wales. assets.wales.com

Putting South Wales at the heart of the nation’s decarbonising journey

South Wales has a long and rich industrial heritage which lead the way in the Industrial Revolution, not just for the UK, but the world. Today South Wales has the chance to be a leader of the Green Revolution. To help achieve this bold ambition, a dynamic collaboration between industries, power providers, the public sector and academic institutions, has been created.

SWIC (the South Wales Industrial Cluster) has been established to boost the competitiveness of South Wales as a key industrial region and drive inward investment, creating and protecting jobs for a low-carbon global economy and growing low-carbon export markets. and energy generation. In 2019, the UK became one of the first countries in the world to legislate that it will reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. If the UK is to hit this target, we need new ways of heating homes, powering businesses and heavy industry and fuelling transport. This requires reducing emissions using methods such as: energy efficiency, fuel switching and carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS).

Wales needs to be developing the infrastructure industry needs to manufacture its products and commodities in a net zero way. If Welsh industry does not, its competitors will. in the low-carbon economy, and to transition to that economy. SWIC is about sharing and networking - advancing the use of new technologies and methodologies, and assisting companies not only to transition to the green economy, but realise its huge opportunities for commercial growth.

Every business will tread its own path to on the road to decarbonisation, but there will be shared challenges that need shared solutions. Through collaboration - with infrastructure developers, renewable energy providers, and green investors - SWIC is committed to helpingindustries map their way forward to net zero.

South Wales is the second largest industrial emitter in the UK, releasing the equivalent of 16 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year across industry SWIC is an enabler - of dynamic collaborations that will help grow the vital infrastructure South Wales’ industries need to operate effectively SWIC is working on core tasks to help South Wales’ industries meet the UK Government and Welsh Government’s net zero target by 2050.

Green Industries Wales INDUSTRY

Inform.

Steps to decarbonisation

SWIC invites companies to engage with us on:

Energy and Resource efficiency

This focus is on making our companies as resource and energy efficient as possible. Government funding from Wales and the UK is available to support businesses in this area and SWIC can assist any South Wales business to access these funds.

Fuel Switching

Options exist for companies to expand their electrification and change to hydrogen or or bio fuels. Which option is best will depend on energy supply, infrastructure and cost.

Clean Growth Hubs

Circular Economy developments are key. SWIC will assist companies to focus on using unused resources to attract inward investment e.g. using waste heat for green houses or district heating schemes. Small regional hubs of industries can benefit from each other’s unused resources, growing energy efficiency and commercial opportunities.

Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU)

When you have made your industry as green as you can but that industry will still emit CO2 then we will explore options to turn that CO2 into chemical feedstocks. SWIC’s partners include companies like Lanzatech who transform CO2 into ethanol, and then turn that enthonal ino chemical feedsocks and sustainable aviation fuels. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

When we can’t utilise our CO2 then we will have to explore shipping our CO2 to the Northern UK CO2 storage capability. Developing CO2 shipping capability is an opportunity for South Wales ports.

Infrastructure

Our gas and electricity grids need the capacity to supply our industries with the electricity and hydrogen then need as they switch from natural gas. By industry working with network providers then both parties understand each other’s options and limitations.

Low Carbon Energy provision

As industry moves away from natural gas it will need huge amounts of hydrogen and low carbon power. By industry working with energy suppliers, both parties understand the quantities that they will need to supply.

The Economics

Energy pricing policies are key to each industry choosing its optimum solution to helping achieve net zero. New policies and pricing mechanisms are being developed by UK Government for Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage, and hydrogen. their commercial application. A core foundation of academic and research support is essential for effective application for south Wales industries.

Skills

As industries explore and transition to their net zero route, upskilling is needed. SWIC provides the ability for shared skills development planning.

Industries in South Wales makes the major contribution to the total £12bn GVA for Wales created by industry. By focusing on the tasks outlined, SWIC is working to ensure that South Wales’ industry will have the greatest opportunity to grow and flourish on their journey to net zero.

Circular Economy

Developing and innovating our way through the transition from a mostly linear economy to a complete circular economy will bring transformative benefits for all and offers huge potential for Welsh business’ to lead the way.

Academia

Many new technologies to support net zero for industries are near commercial availability, and academic support if needed to develop and optimise