£36.7m funding to accelerate the electrification of transport

The government has announced funding for four industrialisation centres across the UK to help accelerate the electrification of transport. 

The UK secretary of state for business and COP26, Alok Sharma, has announced yesterday (March 5) that a £36.7m investment will help to accelerate the design, test and manufacture of electric machines to help update some of the UK’s most polluting industries.

£30m of the funding will be used to create a network of industrial centres, the CSA Catapult Innovation Centre in Newport, Wales is one of the four centres that will receive a share of the funding.

The centres will specialise in the electrification of transport, including planes, ships and cars.

More than 30 partner research and technology organisations and 21 UK universities will be part of the centres.

Alok Sharma said: ‘The electric revolution is an opportunity for our transport sectors to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

‘The UK is leading the way in developing cleaner technologies to help us reach our target of zero emissions by 2050 and these new centres will play an important role in that.’

The secretary of state for Wales, Simon Hart, said: ‘The industrialisation centre created in Newport will generate productivity across the south Wales region, boosting the economy whilst driving forward Welsh innovation and research.’

‘The UK Government is committed to meeting its 2050 net-zero emissions pledge.

‘I saw first-hand how the CSA Catapult Innovation Centre will help us reach our ambitious goal and put the country at the forefront of green innovation during my visit to Newport today.’

Earlier this year, (February 4), the government announced plans to ban the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles from 2035, bringing forward the original date by five years.

The 2035 date could even be moved forward further, subject to a consultation, to help the UK meet its 2050 net-zero climate target.

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