D2N2 LEP Awards £6.5 Million To Seven Low Carbon Projects

The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership has announced it will be investing £6.5million from its Low Carbon Growth Fund into seven innovative projects based across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, and Nottinghamshire.

The ground-breaking fund, which was launched in December last year, aims to provide solutions to help reduce the region’s carbon dioxide output and deliver more sustainable industrial practices.

The funded projects are expected to deliver wide-ranging support and diversification of the local economy. The selected initiatives have a strong focus on innovation with the potential to assist nationally important industries and sectors – and will also benefit small and medium-sized businesses, public sector organisations, and community groups.

Today’s announcement builds on the work of the D2N2 LEPs Low Carbon Group, which was set up last year to convene and coordinate low carbon programmes to deliver opportunities for investment, business growth and jobs to support national and regional policy, including the government’s “Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener” and the “The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution.”

The projects receiving funding include:

• A hydrogen bus scheme to reduce emissions on a route in Derbyshire and the creation of a new H2 refuelling station which will service the buses and other infrastructure.
• A pilot project to test the improved efficiency of new Hydrogen/Diesel Refuse collection vehicles against full diesel vehicles
• A project to purchase and install a new Hydrogen electrolyser which will utilise solar power to create Hydrogen and more environmentally friendly biogas.
• A new facility to commercialise R&D technologies in the Hydrogen and Electric power sectors to take them from concept to the market
• Conversion of commercial units to provide space for courses in heat pump installation and maintenance offering training and reskilling.
• A demonstrator project which will use water heat for commercial heating solutions to showcase how heat can be provided in a low carbon way from disused mines
• Installation of a new low carbon refrigeration and heating system to assist the production and distribution of food products at SmartParc SEGRO Derby.

All project funding is subject to the delivery of a full business case which will be considered by the D2N2 investment and main boards.

[DRAFT] Elizabeth Fagan CBE, Chair of the D2N2 LEP, said: “This announcement is a further signal of our region’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and supporting the growth of our green economy.

These projects have the potential to accelerate sustainable carbon reduction across our region and provide commercial solutions to carbon challenges across the UK. “

Wayne Bexton, Director of Carbon Reduction, Energy and Sustainability at Nottingham City Council, said: “As co-chair of the D2N2 Low Carbon Group I’m thrilled to note the award of funding across the region to deliver innovative solutions to the carbon reduction challenge. Collaboration and sharing of best practice is a key pillar in enabling sustainable change at pace and I have no doubt that this funding award will lead to fantastic results. I look forward to the further opportunities for low carbon jobs these initiatives will bring.”

Becky Rix, D2N2 Board member and Marketing Director at Roadgas, said: ”It is vital that D2N2 encourage and support local SME’s to consider their carbon emissions in the development of new projects in our region.  The Low Carbon Growth Group is committed to supporting the city’s #CN28 campaign as well as delivering green growth in pursuit of our economic recovery.  Sustainability and exciting innovation is at the heart of these successful bids”