Dudley

ABOUT REPOWERING THE BLACK COUNTRY PROJECT

Repowering the Black Country will establish a commercial environment where every business and investor can access the data and finance they need to identify and exploit clean economic opportunities locally and globally. Our Zero Carbon energy infrastructure will be fully-integrated into a national industrial decarbonisation strategy and we will work closely with our sister industrial clusters in Wales, Humberside, the North West and across the UK. The project is a partnership and seeks to work collaboratively with existing agencies and organisations as much as possible. We will complete master planning and establish the necessary data and financial infrastructure by 2023. The initial Zero Carbon hubs will be operational by 2030, and we aim to realise the complete vision before 2040.

VISION

The Black Country is building on its diverse and unique industrial culture to develop an innovative and world-leading net-zero industrial cluster. This will drive economic growth and quality job creation across the wider region and UK.

MISSION

Repowering the Black Country will create the physical and organisational infrastructure which enables the Black Country Zero Carbon Industrial Cluster Vision to become a reality.

This includes a network of Zero Carbon industrial hubs. They will be built around anchor industrial processes and supported by complementary flexible manufacturing as well as service operations and cost-effective Zero Carbon energy infrastructure.

ACTIVITIES & PARTNERS

WMG

Circular Supply Chains

WMG is a world leading research and education group, transforming organisations and driving innovation through a unique combination of collaborative research and development, and pioneering education programmes.

BLACK COUNTRY CONSORTIUM

Hub Locations and Data.

Black Country Consortium Ltd (BCC Ltd) is a diverse, economic development, intelligence and strategic team working with partners from public and private sectors to steer and support the delivery of the…

CR PLUS

Demonstration Hub Development

CR Plus Limited is a specialist consultancy operating in the energy, environmental and sustainability fields, predominantly serving industrial processes and manufacturing.

KEW

Demonstration Hub Development

“KEW Technology is a UK headquartered sustainable energy and solutions company. The company has developed, and commercially deployed a unique Advanced Thermal Conversion (ATC) technology that tackles climate…

DISTRICT EATING

Urban Horticulture

District Eating is one of a very small number of UK companies that develop new sustainable horticulture projects within the UK. We are the only company that is working to develop both commercial and community…

PRO ENVIRO

Business Engagement

Pro Enviro is a specialist energy engineering, carbon abatement and process optimisation consultancy, with over 30 years of experience working with organisations in the energy intensive sectors of the…

BLACK COUNTRY LEP

Hub Locations and Data

The Local Enterprise Partnership for the Black Country, leading both economic growth and job creation in the region by removing barriers for business.

UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM

National Context

The University of Birmingham is ranked among the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 6,500 international…

M3MAS

Finance and Investment

M3MAS Limited is a specialist consultancy, with over 6 years experience of working with Cities and Municipalities on their smart cities agenda, renewable energy needs, decarbonisation targets, smart mobility,…

CAMIRUS

Project Management

Camirus Ltd specialises in strategic project development and support in the distributed energy sector. Through its director, Matthew Rhodes, Camirus has worked closely with the Black Country LEP and local…

Frequently Asked Questions

Here at Virtual Zero Carbon Hub, it is our mission to assist you in finding answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions. These are provided by our team of experts and we are happy to help. If you do not find the answer you are looking for on this page please use the contact page to get information directly.

How do I invest in the Project?

By joining the programme, you will participate in one of the seven Industrial Decarbonisation Cluster plans run by Innovate UK. Repowering the Black Country aims to help decarbonise the industrial activities in the Black Country by 2040
What is the goal of the Black Country Poject?

The Zero Carbon Hub will be the first of its kind and will provide workable solutions to the issue of climate change by achieving net-zero carbon emissions. Provide clean, renewable energy and deliver on the government's pledge to net-zero by 2050.
What is an Industrial Cluster?

Industrial clusters are, by definition, a concentration of related industries or several industrial sites that are grouped within proximity to one another. The definition of clusters encompasses the institutional ties between geographically proximate and functionally integrated companies or between companies and other stakeholders.
What is Carbon Capture and Storage?

Carbon Capture and Storage, often reffered to as CCAS or CCS, is the process of capturing waste carbon dioxide, transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere. This is done to reduce the amount of CO2 emissions released into the atmospher. This technology is responsable for the capture of CO₂ released by burning fossil fuels. Once the CO₂ has been captured, it is compressed into liquid state and transported by pipeline, ship or road tanker. CO₂ can then be pumped underground, usually at depths of 1km or more, to be stored into depleted oil and gas reservoirs, coalbeds or deep saline aquifers, where the geology is suitable.
Where is the 'Black Country' located?

The Black Country is an area of the West Midlands County, in the United Kingdom covering the Metropolitan Boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and the City of Wolverhampton.

Latest Technologies

A library of information on the latest technological advances to achieving net-zero.

‘GLOBAL BLOCKAGE EFFECT’

The Global Blockage Effect in Offshore Wind (OWA GloBE) project is the latest joint industry initiative to be delivered under the Offshore Wind Accelerator…

Transparent solar panels to improve harvest yield.

A pilot project has been launched to explore the impact of new transparent solar panels on the yield of certain crops and how the use of sunlight control…

Floating solar farms

Floating solar farms or “floatovoltaics” are photovoltaic solar power systems that float on reservoirs, dams, or any other body of water. Silicon panels…

Good-bye coal generated electricity!

The UK Government has announced that it indents to bring forward the date to remove coal as a fuel to generate electricity forward. Monday the 30th of…

Carbon Capture

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a climate change mitigation technology where CO2 is captured from power plants and other industrial processes instead…

FIRST CARBON CAPTURE PROJECT GETS FUNDING INJECTION

The HyNet North West project has been given £72 million in funding to implement decarbonisation strategies to assist in delivering a net-zero industrial…

London’s roads are getting greener

A fleet of 20 new, hydrogen powered busses will be introduced into the streets of London running between East Acton and Oxford Circus on the number 7 route.

The super fuel to combat the final 20% of carbon emissions

Climate change remains at the top of the global political agenda, however, the net-zero targets committed to by various governments cannot be achieved…

Heat Exchange

A heat exchanger is a system used to transfer heat between two or more fluids. Heat exchangers are used in both cooling and heating processes. The fluids…

Solar Power

When people hear the words ‘solar power’ they instantly think of regular old solar panels on rooftops or in a solar farm in the desert, and with good reason.…

Latest News

Explore the latest news content on how technology innovation is driving environmental changes across the UK and beyond.

Final emission figures for 2021 show a 5% increase

16 Feb 2023

Are we spending enough time and money tackling the climate crisis?

07 Feb 2023

Growing UK's Net-Zero economy is a £70bn levelling up opportunity

03 Feb 2023

Innovate UK Net-Zero review 2022: Our Clear Future Economy

15 Nov 2022