Supporting Clean Energy Generation
Following a wide ranging consultation process, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) have issued its Clean Energy Strategy that sets out ambitious plans across a wide range of green energy types. This will deliver a key contribution for Cumbria to achieve net zero and to act as a stimulus for economic growth.
Clean Energy Growth and Business Decarbonisation are identified as the two main priorities for CLEP to provide leadership for Cumbria. Delivery of the strategy is addressed by the industry led CLEP Clean Energy Panel.
Cumbria’s unique assets will provide the platform to become a major contributor for UK clean energy generation. This will enable us to deliver on our net zero and levelling up ambitions through securing investment to support sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Our ambitions span a wide range of clean energy types;
Nuclear
Cumbria can build on its vast experience and capability to be the preferred siting for “First of a Kind” nuclear development through fission and fusion to become a significant generator of clean nuclear energy to realise government energy security ambition.
The clean energy strategy builds upon the previously issued Nuclear Prospectus (.PDF, 5.3MB).
Fusion & Innovation
Moorside can be the first of a kind commercial fusion Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) prototype to build on our ’first of a kind’ delivery capability and to drive innovation, productivity and levelling up in Cumbria.
Offshore Wind
Cumbria ports will provide the O&M hub of a growing regional offshore wind capacity making a significant contribution to UK clean energy requirements. This is further supported by growing Cumbria’s specialist manufacturing capability and a world-wide reputation for offshore operations skills development.
Hydrogen & CCUS
Through transition of the Morecambe Bay gas industry, and proposed investments in offshore wind and new nuclear Cumbria has a unique opportunity to develop the UK’s next hydrogen industrial cluster.
Renewable Energy Technologies
There are a wide range of renewable energy technologies that Cumbria can develop making use of geography, natural assets. Delivering on the clean energy ambition for Cumbria needs to be at all levels from the largescale developments to the diverse range of renewable opportunities including smaller scale community led schemes delivered locally in place.
Networks, Storage & Flexibility
To collaborate and secure investment from Network Operators to deliver Cumbria’s Clean Energy Ambition.
Overall, this strategy outlines an ambitious but achievable plan for Cumbria to achieve the following:
- Clean Energy Generation: an overall potential of up to 9GW of clean energy generation by 2040 establishing Cumbria as a key clean energy producer for the UK as well as being a leader of developing rural community renewable energy schemes.
- Economic Development: delivery of this strategy will drive economic growth with up to 13,000 new jobs from clean energy deployment.
- Innovation: Selection of the Moorside site for fusion energy will place Cumbria at the heart of the UK and global race for abundant long term affordable clean energy.
The issue of our Clean Energy Strategy is timely both in terms of the global climate challenge as well as energy security and worldwide escalation of energy prices and uncertainty. Our strategy has to be dynamic and will be kept up to date. It should act as a stimulus to challenge and new ideas where we would welcome proactive engagement.
Download: Cumbria Clean Energy Strategy (.PDF, 29.4MB)
Contact us at info@thecumbrialep.co.uk.
