It was recently announced that the Government has decided to provide approval to the HyNet project. Giving this project the green light, means that decarbonisation of the industry is now possible, as is growth throughout the industrial heartlands of North West and North Wales.

HyNet is a low carbon cluster and the purpose of it, is to implement large scale carbon capture and storage, as well as, low carbon hydrogen infrastructure. Implementing this system will mean that the industry is able to decarbonise.

Another large benefit of delivering HyNet, is that it will effectively secure £5 billion of private sector capital, which will make it possible to re-industrialise the region. Furthermore, it will also allow companies to compete in international low carbon markets successfully, whilst also drawing more industries to the UK.

One of the main reasons for going ahead with HyNet, is that it will position Britain as a world leader within the global net zero economy. It will create 6,000 construction jobs, along with long-term operational roles, which will effective and efficiently build a strong base of skills which will be applicable to those looking to retrain, or people who are just beginning their career. Plus, the development will bring about a burgeoning supply chain, which will support the region’s economy. A final benefit of HyNet, is that it will be possible to recreate it’s blue print across the globe and this will ultimately make widespread decarbonisation possible, even within the hard to abate sectors. It will also help to allow the export of skills.

Other reasons why this project will be so beneficial to the carbon industry, is because HyNet will reduce emissions of CO2 which is produced by industries and it will be able to reduce them by ten million tonnes on an annual basis.

The announcement was made by the Prime Minister, Chancellor and Secretary of State for Net Zero and Energy at Encirc, an international glass production plant and partner of HyNet.

Chair of the HyNet Alliance, David Parkin, commented, “HyNet was formed to meet the demands of industry wanting to decarbonise to deliver sustainable products and compete in the global low carbon economy. We need to decarbonise, not by de-industrialising, but by investing in the industries of the future that we rely on for the everyday products in our lives - from the glass bottles we use for our food and drink to the cement we use to build roads and buildings. Government’s commitment to HyNet will also enable generation of resilient low carbon power, right here in the industrial North West and North Wales, supporting its Clean Power 2030 Mission. This will create new roles and safeguard existing jobs, attracting investment and catalysing growth.”