Scottish green project among six to secure share of £8m funding

A project to slash large-scale industrial emissions in Scotland is among six across the UK to receive a share of £8 million in UK government funding.

Efforts to meet Scotland's ambitious net zero targets include developing more offshore wind farms. Picture: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire

The Scottish project, which is being led by Neccus, involves an alliance of industries and experts, who will develop a net zero road map to enable a reduction in large-scale industrial CO2 emissions in a sustainable way.

The six projects across the UK will receive a share of the multi-million-pound funding as part of a drive to create the world’s first net-zero emissions industrial zone by 2040. All six areas receiving funding have high concentrations of industrial activity.

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.”

The “industrial clusters mission” aims to support the delivery of four low-carbon regional zones by 2030 and at least one net-zero “green hotspot” by 2040, kickstarted by the government’s £170m industrial decarbonisation challenge.

The six winners will now produce detailed plans for reducing emissions across major areas of industrial activity, where related industries have congregated and can benefit from utilising shared clean energy infrastructure such as carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS).

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