Our final event of the conference was an opportunity for the Humber region to showcase the vast opportunities for energy infrastructure, decarbonisation, trade and, above all, the sought-after UK economic investment and growth opportunities.
It was great to have Diana Johnson MP, Melanie Onn and Keir Mather there. Sir Nic Dakin, Karl Turner MP and Lee Pitcher MP - we'll catch you up another time.
Some key points that came out were:
* The Humber is the UK’s largest industrial cluster.
* Its energy companies produce more than 20% of the country’s electricity.
* Its four main ports handle more cargo tonnage than anywhere in the country.
* The Humber lands one-fifth of all the country’s gas imports.
* It emits 20% more carbon dioxide than the next largest industrial cluster.
* The Humber could be a world leader in industrial decarbonisation.
It was great to hear about the many exciting projects straining to be born on the Humber from hydrogen production, use and storage, ammonia (Lieuwe Burger), carbon capture, usage (I haven't forgotten Chris Smith) and storage, and, of course, offshore wind which is such a feature of the South North Sea.
Wonderful to see the Humber speaking with one strong voice and engaging across energy industries, and key stakeholders like the Humber Freeport, CATCH, Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce and CBI (Confederation of British Industry) as well as the MPs. Thank you Hannah Richmond and Drax Group, Diana Taylor and Future Humber for the Humber Vision 2.0 document. It's absolutely brilliant.
Thank you everyone for coming. Great chairing as always, Richard Gwilliam. Simon Green, Jonathan Oxley, Jade Fernandez, Katie Hedges, Vicky Pattison (was Street), Martin Scargill, Guy Phillips, Chris Girdham, Adam Newton, Richard Royal, Anil Ahluwalia, Iwan Hughes, Callan Tree, Simon Holt, Ralph Windeatt, Iona Casley and Jack Cryer.
Thank you again for the photographs Leon Britton, Ba (Hons) and to the FABULOUS staff at the The Racquet Club Hotel & Venue. Best venue in Liverpool!
