The Solent Cluster

In late 2022 the University of Southampton alongside the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership and ExxonMobil, became founding partners in The Solent Cluster The Cluster will be the first major decarbonisation initiative that would substantially reduce CO 2 emissions from industry, transport and households across the Solent and Southern England.

The Cluster is a cross-sector collaboration of international organisations, including manufacturers and engineering companies, regional businesses and industries, leading logistics and infrastructure operators and academic institutions, to bring together proven expertise in carbon capture and storage and hydrogen technology.

Dr Lindsay-Marie Armstrong, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Academic Cluster Lead for the Solent Industrial Decarbonisation Cluster at the University of Southampton, said: “This effort could position the Solent at the centre of low carbon fuel production in the UK and make a major contribution to the country’s Net Zero ambitions by 2050. The project could capture approximately three million metric tons of CO 2 every year.

“The Solent is recognised as one of the leading contributors of CO2 emissions with approximately 3.2 million metric tons of CO2 emissions released from energy-intensive manufacturing processes every year so to form a decarbonisation cluster that spans the public, private and higher education sectors is a monumental step forward for the region.”

In March this year, 11 partners of the Solent Cluster Governing committee attended the House of Commons, sponsored by Steve Brine MP, Conservative Member of Parliament for Winchester. Attendees included Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP, Conservative Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North; Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons; and Dr Alan Whitehead MP, Labour Member of Parliament for Southampton Test.

The Cluster’s highlighted key messages throughout the discussion:

• It is the biggest and most diverse cluster in the country, with 56 members, including local authorities, global and local businesses, universities and colleges and other community and representative bodies. A notable strength of the cluster is that an academic institution, the University of Southampton, has been embedded from the outset.

• The Cluster is backed by companies with the technical know-how and global track record in delivering effective low carbon solutions, including international energy producers with proven expertise.

• An anchor project is the development of a hydrogen production facility at Fawley, with carbon capture and storage. It will produce low carbon fuel at scale to power industry and homes, local transport, as well as sustainable fuels for the maritime and aviation sectors, delivering positive impacts far beyond the Solent region.

• By developing the ability to produce and deliver lower carbon fuels and energy, through reliable supplies of hydrogen, the cluster will help UK businesses remain competitive within the global market while supporting energy resilience, fuel security and affordability.

“This discussion was key to ensuring embedded support for the Cluster from the MPs across the region, as we embark on this once-in-a-generation opportunity. The aim is to drive forward the development of a low carbon economy for the Solent region and beyond while creating new high-skill jobs in the technologies of low-carbon,” concluded Lindsay-Marie.

Dr Lindsay-Marie Armstrong