Net Zero North West were proud to host a significant Industrial Decarbonisation Briefing at the House of Commons this month to discuss the ambitious North West Cluster Plan, which sets out to establish the region as the first net zero carbon cluster in the UK by 2040.

The event was led by an opening keynote from Patrick Hurley, MP for Southport, and also included speeches from Ruth Herbert, Strategy Director at Essar Energy Transition (EET), and Net Zero North West CEO Jane Gaston.

50 guests joined the lunch event, which started with networking drinks, followed by a delicious three-course lunch served by the House of Commons catering team, setting the scene for lots of relaxed networking and conversations.

The North West Cluster plan is a vital reason to bring this group together – it involves a £30 billion pipeline of investable projects with the potential for £207 billion in total investments. Key strategies include the deployment of low-carbon technologies such as hydrogen production and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS). With collaboration between businesses, academia and regional leaders, the plan aims to significantly reduce industrial emissions, create high-value jobs and drive economic growth.



An important opportunity for the North West

Since launch, Net Zero North West has promoted, supported and driven industrial decarbonisation activity in North West England and North Wales, providing an essential contribution to regional economies and supporting thousands of skilled jobs in communities within which they are located, as well as producing vital products and services to provide opportunities for growth.

A range of valued Net Zero members, partners, MPs and friends attended the House of Commons event, including Rachel Armstrong from DESNZ, Emma Degg and Simone Peppi from NWBLT, Tricia Williams from Northern Trains, Matt Browell-Hook from Spirit Energy, Nigel Bouckley from INEOS, Oliver Harry from Encirc, Robert Hudson from TATA, Michelle Lewis and Ruth Herbert from EET, Anna Wharton from Agent and Andrew Cooper, MP for Mid Cheshire.

The briefing was an important opportunity for key regional business leaders and politicians to come together to discuss the huge potential of the North West industrial decarbonisation opportunity.

Patrick Hurley, MP for Southport, said:

“The benefits of the North West Cluster Plan will be felt far more widely than geographical locations. With the potential to create over 600k new jobs, it presents a fantastic opportunity. It’s important to keep engaging with communities and businesses to keep this in people’s minds. If we build and embed relationships today, we enable collaboration to get these projects over the line.”

Ruth Herbert from EET added:

“It is essential we work together to support investment that drives growth.”



Jane Gaston, CEO of Net Zero North West, said:

“The North West Industrial Cluster plan identifies a £30 Billion investment pathway to decarbonise our industry in a way that protects jobs and contributes to economic growth by reducing emissions and delivering a low carbon energy system for the North West. Our manifesto builds on the cluster plan and prioritises key areas we will work collectively with policymakers and investors, to accelerate the pace of industrial decarbonisation in our region. These include energy efficiency, energy transition, investment, innovation, skills, and the supply chain.”