New study highlights potential for Doncaster to become a ‘leading hub’ for green innovation

The study’s authors said that Doncaster is well placed to be at the heart of the Government’s recently announced strategy to develop thriving green industries.

Tassos Kougionis, ESG director at McBains, said: “Like many towns and cities in the north of England, Doncaster has been affected by the decline of traditional industries over the last few decades.

“But with the race to net zero well and truly underway, this study shows Doncaster can maximise the opportunity to establish itself as a leading hub for low carbon industries.”

The study found the size and value of the low carbon sector in Doncaster currently makes up a small proportion of economic activity – accounting for less than 1 per cent of employment in the Doncaster economy, as it does nationally, with a value of £150m per annum.

Four areas considered to offer the most promising avenues for investment are identified by the report, including low carbon heat, low carbon aviation, bioenergy, and alternative fuels including hydrogen.

The report states that Doncaster could become a “key anchor point” for research and manufacturing in low carbon heating solutions, looking in particular at heat pump technology.

It notes that Doncaster would be well positioned to host heat pump manufacturers due to its industrial development sites such as Doncaster North, GatewayEast and Unity Yorkshire.

It also notes potential partnerships with local universities as a key attraction to such manufacturers.

The predicted economic impact of successfully attracting a heat pump manufacturing facility to Doncaster would be the creation of 100 to 400 manufacturing jobs.

Looking at alternative fuels, including hydrogen, the study says that Doncaster has several comparative advantages which could help position it at the heart of the industry.

It notes that Doncaster has a large amount of installed renewable energy capacity, as well as the existing presence of a key market leader in hydrogen production technology with Clean Power Hydrogen.

Focussing on low carbon aviation, the report highlights the potential for a facility which would research and develop ways of reducing the fuel consumption of aircrafts by reducing their mass.

It states that such a facility could be based at GatewayEast (AMRC Doncaster), home to Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

The report adds that once government policy is established through the forthcoming Biomass Strategy, there will be an opportunity to assess where new bioenergy projects could be viable in Doncaster.

Cllr Glyn Jones, Deputy Mayor, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Business, said: “I very much welcome the completion of the Low Carbon Sector Feasibility Study.

“The findings provide a strong and robust basis for Doncaster to attract further inward investment opportunities whilst ensuring a secure and fair transition to becoming a net zero city”.