AMBITIOUS plans have been unveiled with the launch of ‘Greenpower Park’ in Coventry – a UK Centre of Electrification and Clean Energy.
With a focus on electrification technology development and manufacturing, the centre aims to attract an unprecedented inward investment of £2.5billion. The plan is to create 6,000 highly skilled jobs and place the UK at the forefront of critical clean energy technologies.
Bosses said the proposal was already attracting keen interest, with a number of Asian battery manufacturers considering moving to the site. And they added the project was endorsed by nine local universities and a local business sector rapidly establishing itself as a leader in electrification and clean energy.
The area was chosen with a view that the West Midlands Gigafactory – the only site in the UK with approved plans for a large-scale battery production centre with capacity for up to 60GWh – enough to power 600,000 electric vehicles – would be the ‘anchor tenant’.
The project is aimed at starting world-leading collaborations between industry, major academic institutions and stakeholders to help the UK achieve a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
And it is anticipated a future workforce of more than 210,000 local students are enrolled in relevant degrees and vocational courses which would be ideal to meet the electrificiation sector’s needs.
The project backers say the scheme would be pivotal to the UK’s transition to an electrified economy and it would bring a significant leap forward in battery technology development and sustainable manufacturing practices.
Coun Jim O’Boyle, Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change, said: “This ambitious initiative is not merely about setting the groundwork for the next generation of electric technologies and sustainable manufacturing practices.
“It is a clarion call to the world that the UK is open for business, ready to lead the charge in the green industrial revolution.
“With its strategic location, unprecedented financial support, academic partnerships, a ready-made skilled workforce, and oven-ready plans to build Britain’s biggest gigafactory, Greenpower Park is poised to become the cornerstone of the UK’s electrified future, driving forward our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and economic growth.”
