Net-Zero is Driving UK Innovation

The UK’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 has spurred a wave of innovation and collaboration across the country. As part of this ambitious goal, Innovate UK has launched a groundbreaking initiative: the Net Zero Living Programme. With a substantial £25 million package of support, this programme aims to empower local authorities to overcome barriers to climate action, expedite their journey to net zero, and unlock massive investment opportunities.

The Net Zero Living Programme

Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Programme is a three-year, £60 million initiative designed to accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions across the UK. At its core, the programme provides essential innovation funding to local authorities, enabling them to tackle the non-technical barriers that often hinder climate action. These barriers include skills gaps, organisational capacity, citizen engagement, financing, procurement, and governance processes.

Breaking Down Barriers

One of the most significant challenges local authorities face in their net-zero journey is navigating the complex landscape of non-technical barriers. While the technology for decarbonisation exists, implementing these solutions often requires overcoming various systemic obstacles. Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Programme addresses these challenges head-on, providing targeted support to help local authorities develop the necessary capabilities and resources.

Demonstrator Projects: Showcasing Practical Solutions

A key component of the Net Zero Living Programme is the funding of demonstrator projects. Seven local authorities have been selected to receive innovation funding ranging from £2 million to £5 million each. These projects will serve as practical examples of how to overcome non-technical barriers and implement carbon-cutting measures effectively.

1. Lancashire: Developing a financing model for new low-carbon heat networks in traditional terraced streets.
2. Peterborough: Creating a strategic approach to integrating net zero into operations, including a digital system for project design, management, and delivery.
3. Orkney and Shetlands: Establishing rural energy hubs to integrate transport, heat, and power.
4. York: Facilitating retrofitting homes with low-carbon measures, improving the householder experience, and enhancing energy efficiency standards.
5. Leicestershire: Focusing on community energy projects using citizen engagement and innovative financing to meet local needs.
6. Liverpool: Coordinating local power, heat, and transport needs through a ‘whole systems’ approach.
7. Bristol: Engaging citizens in identifying net-zero projects and developing local supply chain skills.

Future Ready Programme: Building Capacity and Community

In addition to the demonstrator projects, Innovate UK is launching the Future Ready Programme. This two-year initiative involves a cohort of around 50 local authorities, providing them with practical support, training, and shared learning opportunities. The programme focuses on five critical areas for net-zero progress: visioning and citizen engagement, planning, finance and investment, data, and policy and regulation.

The Future Ready Programme aims to create a robust community of practice across the UK. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, local authorities can generate insights, share learning, and develop innovative solutions to common challenges. This collective effort will help accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions, ensuring that best practices are disseminated widely and effectively.

Unlocking Investment Opportunities

One of the most exciting aspects of the Net Zero Living Programme is its potential to unlock significant investment opportunities. Innovate UK has highlighted that the local projects needed to achieve net-zero emissions will require an unprecedented £500 billion in investment over the coming years. This represents a massive opportunity for both public and private sector stakeholders to contribute to the UK’s net-zero goals.
To facilitate this, Innovate UK has partnered with PwC to develop new research and guidance on sourcing finance and investment for net-zero projects. This includes a market intelligence report that outlines the investment landscape and provides practical advice for local authorities seeking to attract private sector funding.

Innovative Approaches to Planning and Decarbonisation

Another critical component of the Net Zero Living Programme is the development of new thinking and guidance on planning for decarbonisation. Innovate UK has commissioned Regen to produce comprehensive guidance for local authorities, helping them to effectively approach decarbonisation at a local level. This guidance will be instrumental in shaping the strategies and plans that underpin the UK’s transition to net-zero emissions.

Empowering Local Authorities

The success of the Net Zero Living Programme hinges on the active participation and empowerment of local authorities. By providing innovation funding and practical support, Innovate UK is enabling local authorities to take bold steps towards net-zero. This includes developing new skills, building organisational capacity, engaging with citizens, and creating innovative financing models.

Collaboration and Shared Learning

Collaboration is at the heart of the Net Zero Living Programme. By bringing together local authorities from across the UK, Innovate UK is fostering a culture of shared learning and mutual support. This collaborative approach ensures that local authorities can learn from each other’s successes and challenges, accelerating the overall progress towards net-zero emissions.

A Path to a Greener Future

The Net Zero Living Programme is a testament to the power of innovation funding in driving the UK’s transition to net-zero emissions. By addressing non-technical barriers, showcasing practical solutions through demonstrator projects, and fostering a community of practice through the Future Ready Programme, Innovate UK is paving the way for a greener, more sustainable future.

As local authorities across the UK embark on their net-zero journeys, the support and guidance provided by Innovate UK will be invaluable. The combined efforts of public and private sector stakeholders, empowered by innovation funding, will unlock the full potential of the UK’s net-zero ambitions, driving transformative change and setting a global example in the fight against climate change.

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