THOUSANDS of manufacturing jobs in the Mersey-Dee area have been safeguarded by the the UK Government backing a renewable energy project in the area.

HyNet North West is an innovative low carbon and hydrogen energy project that will unlock a low carbon economy for the North West and North Wales.

The UK Government has awarded it Track 1 Cluster Sequencing Funding for Carbon Capture and Underground Storage (CCUS) infrastructure.

The implementation of CCUS from 2025 will safeguard the future of thousands of high value manufacturing jobs in the Mersey Dee and connected economic areas in North Wales.

Councillor Mark Pritchard, chair of the Mersey Dee Alliance (MDA), said: “It is fantastic news for the integrated cross border economy of the Mersey-Dee area.

"The MDA formed a strategic partnership with HyNet to ensure that the Mersey-Dee area becomes the cradle of the UK’s green industrial revolution.

"Track 1 funding sets us on the road of early adoption of net zero industrial processes. It will secure thousands of existing well-paid jobs in advanced manufacturing and tackle the climate emergency by beginning the process of cutting carbon emissions to zero through CCUS and industrial fuel switching to hydrogen."

HyNet estimates that its investment in CCUS and hydrogen infrastructure will create 6000 new jobs.

Councillor Ian Roberts, leader of Flintshire Council, added: “This is great news for Wales and North Wales in particular. HyNet will provide CCUS and hydrogen energy for industrial fuel switching and domestic energy in North Wales.

"Local companies like Hanson and Essar will be huge beneficiaries of the early adoption of CCUS in the Mersey Dee economy.

"HyNet will be able to make a significant contribution to Welsh Government plans for a 'hydrogen economy' in Wales. There will be benefits for de-carbonising heavy goods transport by using hydrogen fuel and complementing local projects like the Deeside Hydrogen Hub.”

Dr. James Davies MP, (Vale of Clwyd), Chair of the Westminster Mersey-Dee and North Wales All Party Parliamentary Group, said: "This project will create thousands of jobs and help promote North Wales as a hub for clean energy innovation.

"From as soon as 2025, the project will enable our manufacturing sector across the region to decarbonise, as well as providing the opportunity to transition the way we travel and how we heat our homes.