Oxford to Develop Industrial Decarbonisation Roadmap

To achieve its 2040 net zero target, Oxford needs to reduce industrial energy demand by 45% and electrify 50% of industrial processes

The UK city of Oxford is developing a roadmap outlining how industry can decarbonise in line with the city’s net zero ambitions. Oxford City Council, on behalf of the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership, has received £265,032 from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to help develop the in-depth plan.

Oxford’s Net Zero Goals

Oxford has a goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions across the city as a whole by 2040, 10 years ahead of the legal deadline set by Government. Overall, around a fifth (17%) of Oxford’s emissions is related to industry, with 66% of the city’s industrial processes running on gas. To achieve the 2040 target, there is a need to reduce industrial energy demand by 45% and electrify 50% of industrial processes.

The Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership is a collaboration bringing together universities, NHS trusts, councils, large businesses, further education, and community organisations, committed to achieving a net zero city by 2040. The partnership created the Zero Carbon Oxford Roadmap and Action Plan, which outlines the key sectors and milestones for the city needed to achieve net zero.

Oxford’s industry sector has a global impact and reach but is made up of more than 350 relatively small and diverse industrial sites over the city, and a few larger ones. Therefore, the unique needs of each site need to be considered.

The funding will help support Oxford City Council and partners to:

• Develop a strategic industry decarbonisation roadmap that outlines the best way for organisations to work together and act individually to decarbonise industry in Oxford
• Establish a group within the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership for relevant industry organisations to work together to deliver the action plan
• Increase the ability of organisations locally to deliver projects within the industry roadmap.
• The successful funding bid follows a £150,000 grant that Oxford City Council and partners received last month to explore a new approach to retrofitting. Both projects are key in supporting Oxford’s journey to net zero.

The successful £265,000 bid from Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plans stream will expand on the initial Zero Carbon Oxford roadmap to create an industry specific roadmap and action plan. This will include the cost implications, and resourcing needs across the different industries in Oxford.

Oxford City Council will lead the project on behalf of the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership, working closely with partners from BMW Mini, Unipart, Oxfordshire Greentech and Oxfordshire County Council. The project is now underway and will run until December 2024.