Industrial innovations backed by £7m could save 4 million tCO₂ over 10 years

Welcome to Net Zero News — your daily briefing on the UK’s transition to a low‑carbon future.

The Carbon Trust today published results from the Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA), showing that 13 grant‑funded projects, backed by £7 million under the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, are set to deliver energy efficiency and resource savings across diverse industrial processes—from metalworking and recycling to heat recovery and road resurfacing. These innovations could collectively reduce emissions by around 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent over the next decade. The initiative was delivered by the Carbon Trust in partnership with Jacobs and Innovate UK Business Connect, and is funded through the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Meanwhile, in the regulatory sphere, Ofgem has introduced a new Advanced Procurement Mechanism (APM). This move enables transmission operators — including National Grid, SSE, and SP Energy Networks to secure essential equipment and services years ahead. The initiative is designed to mitigate supply chain bottlenecks and accelerate rollout of the 80 major grid projects needed to support decarbonisation by 2030. Crucially, Ofgem has granted ‘use it or lose it’ capital allowances under the upcoming 2026–31 price control framework, ensuring agility to restart the settlement if market conditions shift.

In Scotland, the government has renewed its commitment to heat decarbonisation by introducing legislation with a firm 2045 target. The Bill proposes mandatory improvements such as higher energy efficiency standards, wider deployment of district heat networks, and new Social Housing Net Zero Standards. It also calls for reforms to Energy Performance Certificates and strategic efforts to rebalance domestic energy pricing recognising that cleaner heat must also be affordable if deployment is to succeed.

What this means:
The Carbon Trust‑backed industrial innovations offer tangible, sector‑specific interventions that pin emissions to a downward trajectory, showing that targeted funding and collaboration between industry and government can deliver meaningful decarbonisation at scale. Ofgem’s APM addresses the persistent risk of grid expansion delays, helping sustain the infrastructure backbone needed for renewable deployment and electrification. Scotland’s legislative approach offers a forward‑looking policy framework, balancing ambition with fairness as households especially in rural communities align with net‑zero transition.

Upcoming Events:
Net Zero Scotland Projects Conference -16 June 2026, Edinburgh

Net Zero Nations Projects Conference – 6 October 2026, Westminster

Do you have technologies, innovations or solutions that can help public‑sector net‑zero projects?
Email: lee@net‑zero.scot