New reportset to outline how a zero-carbon future for Oxfordshire can be met by 2050 to be published at webinar

A key reportwhich will showcase the steps needed for Oxfordshire to achieve a zero-carbon future by 2050 – as well as the considerable green expertise that exists in the county – is set to be published at a webinar next month.

A partnership of key organisations leading the low carbon transition have commissioned the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute and Bioregional to produce a significant new report entitled: ‘Pathways to a Zero Carbon Oxfordshire’.

Those behind this project include the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) Oxfordshire County Council Low Carbon Hub Cherwell District Council Oxford City Council West Oxfordshire District Council South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils Oxford Sciences Innovation the Greater South East Energy HubOxford Brookes University and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks.

The report will be launched at an online event on 29 June. The UK Net Zero Business Champion Andrew Griffith MP will deliver a keynote speech and the report-writing team will highlight key findings from their work.

Professor Nick Eyre and Professor Kathy Willis will discuss the broader implications for the countywhich has already made significant progress towards decarbonising its economy.

‘Pathways to a Zero Carbon Oxfordshire’ will not only outline the transformation needed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 but it will also showcase the county’s immense expertise in this area all underpinned by a thriving world-class innovation ecosystem.

The report will also highlight the challenges ahead in transforming the county’s energy and transport systems substantially upgrading Oxfordshire’s building stock and using land for carbon sequestration.

It will in additionpoint to areas where change and investment is urgently needed.

In a year that sees the UK host the United Nations-led COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow the report couldn’t be timelier and is also an opportunity to emphasise the significant role Oxfordshire can play internationally.

Ahmed Goga Director of Strategy and Programmes at OxLEPsaid: “The report couldn’t be more timely with COP26 now just a few months away.

“Our immense energy expertise is being applied to exploring the boundaries of future energy systems. For example we are at the centre of all things nuclear fusion – led by the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy – a form of energy that offers the world an abundant and replenishable source of energy within our lifetimes.

“Oxford PV’s next-gen perovskite solar cells have broken the world record for solar energy conversion – a huge step towards efficient and affordable solar energy for all whilst Harwell Campus’ EnergyTec Cluster and at the Faraday Institution are finding new solutions to energy storage and testing novel energy systems.

“In addition to this two of the three UK energy system demonstrators Energy Superhub Oxford and Project Leo – an ambitious smart grid trial – are based in the county too and it’s this expertise and capability that we continue to highlight widely.”

Professor Nick Eyre added: “This report makes clear that there are different possible routes to achieving a zero carbon economy over the next three decades depending on the types of technological and social change we decide to pursue.

“What is clear though is that transformative change will be needed in the ways in which we use and generate energy; design and use transport systemsand plan our use of land.”

Oxfordshire’s low carbon energy sector generates £1.15bn a year and over the past half-decadethe county has attracted £2bn in foreign direct investment.

Meanwhilethe county’s Energy Strategy is set to help spearhead a further £1.35bn annually to the Oxfordshire economycreating at least 11000 new jobs in the low-carbon sector by 2030.

In additionOxford will be the first UK city to introduce a zero emissions zone and the county has over 270 community renewable energy projectsincluding the UK’s first community-owned solar and hydro schemes.

Find out more on ‘Pathways to Zero Carbon Oxfordshire’ and sign-up to the event