Green growth boost for East Midlands as government announces multi billion pound investment to guarantee UK energy independence

After decades of reliance on importing expensive, foreign fossil fuels, the Government is delivering a radical shift in our energy system towards cleaner, more affordable energy sources to power more of Britain from Britain.

New green technologies, set to be developed and deployed here the East Midlands, including hydrogen, will spearhead the government's new Energy Security Plan.  

The government has also set an ambition for 10GW of hydrogen production by 2030 – which could generate enough clean electricity to power all of London for a year.

The East Midlands will be central to these plans, JG Pears based in the region shortlisted to receive funding from the Electrolytic Hydrogen Allocation Round to kick start the low carbon hydrogen economy across the UK and help meet the country’s wider net zero target.  

Today we've also announced we're investing a further £37,677,540 in the East Midlands to support charging infrastructure for the transition to electric vehicles.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

“Thanks to our unique geography and strong expertise in clean technology, the UK is well placed to create thriving new industries in carbon capture, hydrogen and floating offshore wind across the country.

“By investing in new ways to power Britain from Britain, we will not only strengthen our long-term energy security, but also deliver on our promise to grow the economy with well-paid jobs and opportunities for businesses to export their expertise around the world.”

Energy Security and Net Zero Minister Graham Stuart said: 

“The East Midlands will be at the heart of our plans to power up Britain, as we support its development of new home-grown technologies of the future.  

"Today's announcement will create opportunities for East Midlands businesses to export their expertise around the world and set the standard for a clean, secure and prosperous future.”

In today’s announcement, the government named the first projects to progress to the next stage of the negotiations to rollout the first Carbon Capture clusters in our industrial heartlands.

This follows the confirmation in the Spring Budget of £20 billion for CCUS. This investment will future-proof jobs in our industrial heartlands, as well as helping the Government to meet its climate commitments. 

 CCUS is a key pillar to the UK’s path to net zero – recognised by the independent Committee on Climate Change as a necessity – and the country’s geography means it has capacity to permanently store carbon emissions taken from our air deep underground and at sea.

Today’s announcement will play an essential role in levelling up the East Midlands, driving green growth at home and abroad so businesses across the region can set the global standard for a clean, secure and prosperous future.