DNV GL and WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff brought together representatives of the UK’s manufacturing sectors with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to discuss next steps towards a low carbon economy and a competitive industrial sector for the UK.
All eight of the UK’s industrial sectors – cement, ceramics, chemicals, food and drink, glass, iron and steel, oil refining and paper and pulp – were represented at the event, which brought together trade bodies, academia, trade unions, government and EU representatives for the first time since the UK general election in May 2015.
The event secured broad consensus in a number of key areas including the need for the UK to focus on both short-term energy efficiency improvements as well as technology innovation that will help achieve long-term step changes for the industry; a credible financial model for carbon capture must be developed if it is to fulfil its potentially pivotal role in helping UK industry achieve decarbonisation targets; and action needs to be taken now in order to bring demonstration sites to the UK both from Government and Industry.
