The South Wales Industrial Cluster (SWIC) deployment project, led by Costain, received phase two funding of around £20m, after successfully completing phase one assessments looking at decarbonization schemes and the infrastructure required for a hydrogen economy in South Wales.
Phase two of the project includes engineering studies to explore the routes to decarbonization, including the use and production of a hydrogen supply, carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) and CO2 shipping from South Wales.
Rob Philips energy sector director at Costain, commented:
The SWIC holds the potential to strengthen the economic resilience of Welsh industry and communities by ensuring operations in the region are sustainable for the long term
In addition, Dr Chris Williams, head of industrial decarbonisation at Industry Wales, explained tha the ambition in SWIC is to create a truly sustainable cluster, so this deployment project will form an important step to realise that ambition.
Each of our industries faces a transformational change to reach net zero.This project starts to develop the necessary low carbon power, hydrogen and CCUS infrastructure that will be so important to maintain and grow net zero industry in South Wales
What is more, UK Government business and energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, noted that ahead of COP26, the UK is showing the world how it can cut emissions, create jobs and unleash private investment and economic growth.
