Tyseley Energy Park, Birmingham, UK
About this good practice
The Tyseley Environmental Enterprise district is a clean technology hub for the city of Birmingham. With a long history of industry in the area, the remaining businesses seek new and innovative energy supplies to help the remaining firms stay competitive. It is against that backdrop of transforming industrial competitiveness that the vision has been conceived. Tyseley Energy park is one of the sites within the Tyseley Environmental Enterprise District. Established in 1720, site owners Webster and Horsfall Ltd are one of Birmingham’s oldest manufacturing companies. The business has been located on the Tyseley site for 160 years, and are best known as the manufacturers of wire for the successful transatlantic telegraph cable in 1866. Energy is still a key strategic business focus for the company, which supplies wire and ropes for the oil, gas and coal industries. The development of the Tyseley Energy Park, with its emphasis on alternative low carbon energy fuels, builds on the tradition. Phase 1 of the Tyseley Energy Park has already seen a 50-million-euro investment into a 10.4M Wt waste wood biomass power plant (thermal catalytic reforming reactor to produce char/syngas/ pyrolysis oil). Planning permission has recently been approved for the UK first low carbon station on phase 2 which is strategically located between the city centre and Birmingham airport. Tyseley Energy Park provides a logical place to deploy refuelling infrastructure for a range of low carbon fuels.
Resources needed
The key driver for the area was the modification of the planning rules to enable new businesses to relocated to the Tyseley Enterprise Zone in a speedy manner, and the City Council enabled this to happen. Additionally, ESIF support was given to enhance the infrastructure and roads in the area.
Evidence of success
Changes in the local planning regime, 50 million euros invested in new plant and machinery, further investment is ongoing, 17 new jobs created, 100 jobs created in the construction phase, 72,000 tonnes of waste wood diverted from landfill each year, 10.4 Mega Watt equivalent per year of renewable energy generated, CO2 Emissions 107,000 tonnes per year avoided, equivalent to 45,000 cars off the road per year
Potential for learning or transfer
All the Strategic stakeholder need to ensure a good communication system is in place to assist the dialogue between, investors, businesses, Birmingham City Council and residents. Once these system are in place this dialogue speeds up the process to assist in making the required changes (i.e. new planning process and new infrastructure built).
(landowners and potential investors for renewable fuel market), and Chris Rogers from the University of Birmingham.
At the next interregional meeting in Sweden in January 2017, PP5 demonstrated the approach of using low carbon fuels in the city transport fleet. During discussions in Sweden it was highlighted by the Swedish Authorities of the need to involve local stakeholders, neighbours and SME community to obtain buy-in to this approach. This knowledge and experience was then taken back by the LP and David Horsfall who then used this knowledge to influence the regional stakeholders, neighbours and SME community.
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Industrial Symbiosis Ltd