South Wales Zero 2050 - Transport Summary

National Grid are currently leading “zero-2050”, a multi organisational initiative seeking to develop a co-ordinated cross-sector strategy for achieving net zero carbon emissions for the South Wales region.

The UK has a target to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

A net-zero target requires deep reductions in emissions, coupled with techniques such as carbon capture and storage to offset any remaining sources.

South Wales was identified as one of the hardest regions to decarbonise to meet these targets; the region retains a core of heavy industry, with relatively undeveloped transport networks and comparatively high levels of rural economic activity.

A plausible route to reach net-zero by 2050 for South Wales is intended to provide a blueprint for use by other UK regions.

BMT supported this project by leading the transport sector, focussing on the urban and rural decarbonisation of a range of modes of transport (Vehicle, Rail, Marine & Aviation).

The objectives of the Transport sub-group were as follows:

• To investigate what different decarbonisation options for the transport sector means in terms of energy demand;
• To understand the impact of the decarbonisation of cars, commercial vehicles (HGVs etc.), Rail, Marine and Aviation industry, in addition to urban transport decarbonisation of cities;
• To identify network reinforcements and investment requirements to meet future demands under credible transport decarbonisation scenarios.

The policy of BMT in approaching the decarbonisation options for South Wales was to pursue the most likely and technologically feasible transport technologies, taking into account any strong social and political factors in the development of assumptions and scenarios.

In practice this meant that although some decarbonisation options may theoretically be faster, cheaper, or more desirable in some other way, they were not considered if they did not represent a fair and feasible future scenario.

Throughout the project, engagement with stakeholders, consortium members and other interested parties was necessary, whereby BMT presented data and discussed both technical and policy-based findings. Meetings and workshops were led to align group activities, and continual engagement required with other sector leads in order to provide suitably aligned outputs to the National Grid customer