This Western Gateway’s ability, and further potential, to produce energy from “green” sources is well documented and a key part of Our Plan for Sustainable Growth. We have been working with partners to boost that potential and ensure our area plans are robust, so that we are ready to do our part to deliver the UK’s Net Zero ambitions and grow our economy whilst doing it.
Deputy Director, Steph Jary talks about two key, exciting, elements to our energy approach…
Of all the great things about working in the Western Gateway Partnership, one of the things I love most is getting involved in such a diverse range of activities. I’m privileged to both oversee the Severn Estuary Commission: our independent review of the feasibility of producing tidal power in/from the Severn; and to be co-chair of the GW-SHIFT Programme, an ambitious academic, industry and civic partnership to develop the Hydrogen cluster in the area.
Both of these are getting to exciting points in their lifecycle!
GW Shift is roughly a year old and we have selected twelve sprint projects, worth around £900,000 altogether with match funding, to take forward. The projects are part of the overall programme and targeted at things that will help accelerate the commercialisation and proof-of-concept for hydrogen technology applications. In undertaking some of the assessments, I was fascinated by the range of applications, from storage of energy, to powering forges, to cleaning up Maritime transportation!
If, like me, that sounds surprising, or you only really thought of Hydrogen as something in fertiliser, then GW-SHIFT has the answer for you! Starting with “Hydrogen 101” delivered by co-director Professor Tim Mays, the programme is doing a series of seminars designed to educate anyone and everyone on the benefits, applications, drawback and potential of Hydrogen in clean energy.
Hydrogen 101 : 31 January 2025, 12:00 – 13:00, online
Further sessions will follow, and we’ll advertise them on our social media channels. But to avoid disappointment, why not follow GW-SHIFT on LinkedIn?
This area is uniquely placed to lead the delivery of the green hydrogen economies needed to decarbonise the UK, with an abundance of green energy production and water; two things that also come together as the core question behind the most significant strand of work in the Western Gateway Partnership: The Severn Estuary Commission.
The increasing urgency in achieving net zero and the instability in global energy markets is stark. The need for a diversity of energy types to provide UK energy security against a backdrop of threefold demand increases meant we felt the time was right to determine the opportunities presented by developing tidal energy in the estuary. Recognising the number of attempts to address this subject already, we brought together a range of experts to form an independent commission who are taking an unbiased view on technology, potential impacts on the area’s environment, economy, and communities.
After several months, hundreds of reports, myriad stakeholder interactions, dozens of events and a full, open, call for evidence the commissioners are starting to pull together the vital information to create their final report, and recommendations.
I spent the day with them, in Newport last week, listening to their deliberations. I was, honestly, floored by the level of detail they had grasped, the complexity of issues they are grappling with and the huge range of disciplines they are bringing together! The debate, it’s fair to say, was robust; as it should be with such critical issues as a nationally significant ecosystem, a global energy and nature crisis, a massive need for energy, net zero and the lives and wellbeing of millions living around the Estuary. I was quite relieved not to be a part of the discussions or the decision making.
As the time for their report draws closer, with just weeks to go until they deliver their recommendations to Western Gateway Partnership and the world, I’m reminded of what brings this partnership together: the geography we share and the values we work with. With the Severn at our heart, we represent a partnership of people who are naturally innovative, push the boundaries and are set to grow faster than anywhere outside London. But we’re people that value our heritage, natural habitats and cultural life together, and it’s that balance which will, I feel, keep the Western Gateway at the front of energy security and sustainable growth.
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