North East England's low carbon transport manufacturing sector is growing rapidly, from electric vehicle production in Sunderland to chemicals manufacturing for batteries at sites including Wilton International, in Teesside. We talked to Paul Butler, CEO at the North East Automotive Alliance (NEAA), to find out how the sector is changing, and how the North East cluster is leading the way. How is the automotive sector changing as it transitions to low carbon technologies? ‘The biggest change for the automotive sector is obviously the move away from internal combustion engines (ICEs) to electric vehicles. This has been driven by legislation, meaning that by 2030 no new diesel or petrol cars can be sold in the UK. Then, by 2035, there’ll be an end to hybrid cars, which have been a useful bridging technology, whilst all new heavy goods vehicles in the UK will be zero-emission by 2040.

Dr David Hughes is an Associate Professor at Teesside University's Centre for Sustainable Engineering. As the Teesside cluster, including Wilton International, pursues its goal of becoming the UK’s first decarbonised industrial cluster, we asked David about key Net Zero technologies, Teesside's sustainable future, and Teesside University's role in supporting industry's Net Zero transition. On Delivering Net Zero The UK has committed to decarbonising its electricity system by 2035 and delivering Net Zero emissions by 2050. To achieve these goals, what are the main challenges facing UK industry, including the Teesside cluster? ‘The main challenge is around the systems that enable businesses to work together. Decarbonisation is a complex project and needs to be considered at scale – at the level of cities or industrial clusters.

For the UK to meet its climate change target of Net Zero emissions by 2050, energy-intensive businesses and industrial sites must decarbonise. As Sembcorp Energy UK explores potential decarbonisation solutions and technologies for Wilton International, we take a look at the site’s sustainability journey so far… .section--timeline { padding-top: 0rem; max-width: 1200px; } .timeline { position: relative; margin: 0 auto; } .section--timeline::-webkit-scrollbar-track {background: #A8CCC5;} .section--timeline::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:hover {background: #007c5a;} .section--timeline::-webkit-scrollbar {width: 5px;} .section--timeline::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb{background: #353d3b;} .timeline::after { content: ""; position: absolute; width: 6px; background-color: #4bb6ff; top: 0; bottom: 0; left: 50%; margin-left: -3px; } .tlcontainer { padding: 10px 40px; position: relative; background-color: inherit; width: 49.5%; } .tlcontainer::after { content: ""; position: absolute; width: 25px; height: 25px; right: -17px; background-color: white; border: 4px solid #4bb6ff; top: 15px; border-radius: 50%; z-index: 1; } .

Click on the Map Key to show available land types and uses, and development plots within Wilton International’s Freeport tax zone. #landmap{width: 100%;margin-bottom: -100px;} @media screen and (min-width:1088px) { #landmap{width: 60%;}} /* desktop */ Your browser does not support SVG Wilton International’s portfolio of available development land now includes: 185 hectares (458 acres) currently available, in plot sizes ranging from 1 to 27 hectares (2.5 to 66 acres) Greenfield and brownfield options, for heavy or light industrial uses Plots available within Wilton International’s Freeport tax zone The site’s unique offer to investing, energy-intensive businesses includes: Fully serviceable development plots, with ‘plug and play' energy, utilities and industrial infrastructure Flexible tenancies, tailored to customers’ specific requirements Pre-consented planning, for a range of heavy and light industrial uses Teesside Freeport tax zone incentives, potentially including Enhanced Capital Allowances and Business Rate Relief.