- New cutting-edge network of industrial centres to help UK
lead the charge to net zero by 2050
- Four centres of excellence based in Newport, Nottingham,
Strathclyde and Sunderland will help electrify planes, ships and
cars
- Comes as UK Government holds new Cabinet Committee meeting
focusing on Climate Change
The UK Secretary of State for Business and COP 26 President
has announced a £36.7 million
investment to design, test and manufacture electric machines in
some of the UK’s most polluting industries.
The Business Secretary unveiled a total of £36.7 million in UK
Government investment. £30 million will be used to create a
network of industrial centres specialising in the research and
development of electric transport.
The CSA Catapult Innovation Centre in Newport will use a share of
the £30 million to become one of four ‘Driving the Electric
Revolution’ Centres for Excellence. The centres will bring
together climate change pioneers to research and develop green
electric machines including planes, ships and cars.
Each centre will propel UK manufacturing to the forefront of
global efforts to tackle climate change and ensure the UK can
reach net zero emissions by 2050.
Secretary of State for Business and COP 26 President said:
The electric revolution is an opportunity for our transport
sectors to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels.
The UK is leading the way in developing cleaner technologies to
help us reach our target of zero emissions by 2050 and these
new centres will play an important part in that.
Secretary of State for Wales said:
The Centre for Excellence created in Newport will generate
productivity across the south Wales region, boosting the
economy whilst driving forward Welsh innovation and research.
The UK Government is committed to meeting its 2050 net zero
emissions pledge. I saw first-hand how the CSA Catapult
Innovation Centre will help us reach our ambitious goal and put
the country at the forefront of green innovation during my
visit to Newport today.
The £30 million industrialisation centres will provide a home for
virtual product development, digital manufacturing and advanced
assembly techniques, that could drive world-leading improvements
in the testing and manufacturing of electric machines.
This includes power electronics, electric machines and drives -
all of which are crucial in electric vehicles and ultimately to
their widespread rollout on our streets.
More than 30 partner research and technology organisations will
be a part of the industrialisation centres. The network will be
headed up by lead partner Newcastle University, along with 21
other universities from around the UK, plus 13 Research and
Technology Organisations – and will be essential in attracting
both foreign direct investment and new, innovative entrants into
this space.
Driving the Electric Revolution challenge
The Business Secretary also announced the 14 winning projects for
the UK Government’s Driving the Electric Revolution challenge.
One of the successful projects, TRW of Pontypool, will work with
Romax Technology to help boost supply chain efficiencies in
industries affected by electrification, from aerospace to
automotive, to energy and rail.
A total of £6.7 million will be shared by the 14 projects, which
comprise 38 major businesses from around the UK, including GKN,
Jaguar Land Rover and Rolls-Royce.
The announcement comes as the Prime Minister held the first
meeting of a new Cabinet committee focused on tackling climate
change; discussing how the UK Government can go further and
faster towards net zero.
