News | Thursday, 24th September 2020
New University-led energy agency to turn Greater Manchester green announced
Manchester Metropolitan will help kick-start a decade of clean energy innovation
A new Energy Innovation Agency (EIA) established between three Manchester universities and local government has been announced with the aim of kick-starting a decade of clean energy innovation to meet the region’s 2038 carbon neutral target.
The formation of the unique new local agency was announced by Mayor Andy Burnham ahead of the Greater Manchester Green Summit, which is taking place this week.
Manchester Metropolitan University alongside the University of Manchester and University of Salford will apply their energy and environmental research expertise, working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and industry partners, to ensure Manchester continues to lead on ambitious regional environmental innovation and action.
Professor Steve Decent, Deputy Vice Chancellor at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “Our priority is to help Greater Manchester improve energy access and security of energy supply in socially, technically and economically convenient conditions.
“The University fully supports the Energy Innovation Agency vision in that it will create conditions incorporating clean energy resources and innovative technologies.
“Strengthened collaboration and research between academic institutions and industry will move us towards an energy transition that is completely focused on investing in a future that will support commitments of the region to become carbon neutral by 2038.”
The vision for the EIA is to lead the transition to zero carbon society and economy by bridging the innovation gap, leading to an acceleration of emissions reductions, increased implementation of technological innovations and enhanced, forward-thinking policy agenda setting.
The new agency will act as an intermediary between the region’s world-class environmental research output, industry innovators, the energy supply pipeline and stakeholders in Greater Manchester to close the current gap to zero carbon – delivering a transformation of our energy system.
Councillor Andrew Western, GMCA Lead for the Green City-Region, said: “Tackling the transition to a zero carbon society is going to take a group effort.
“The combined insight of Greater Manchester’s universities, industry partners and GMCA will enable us to work together to achieve this goal.”
While the UK Government set a binding target of 2050 to achieve net zero carbon, Manchester set its own more ambitious 2038 deadline to decarbonise its energy system.
The EIA will be a significant contributing factor in aiming to reach the aspirational target in the hope the area can be a pace-setter for the rest of the country.
Western added: “We’re already making good progress towards the goals of our Five-Year Environment Plan, which alongside achieving decarbonisation, also includes improving air quality, protecting the natural environment and building resilience to climate change.
“By establishing partnerships such as the GM Energy Innovation Agency, we are in a much better position to support our commitment to become carbon neutral by 2038, creating a greener city-region for years to come.”
