The proposal to form the new local agency was announced at the Greater Manchester Green Summit. The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and University of Salford will apply their energy and environmental research expertise working with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and SSE Enterprise to ensure Manchester continues to lead on ambitious regional environmental innovation and action.
Professor Colette Fagan, Vice-President for Research, The University of Manchester said: "The establishment of the Greater Manchester Energy Innovation Agency is a great example of collaboration between our universities, local government and industry partners to lead through commitment, innovation and action for the benefit of society and our environment.
"Linking the decarbonisation agenda to economic growth through innovation is key to achieving net zero carbon. Bringing together Greater Manchester’s environmental research expertise in this new agency with the encouragement of GMCA is a significant and exciting step toward achieving a greener future."
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The vision for the Energy Innovation Agency is to lead the transition to zero carbon society and economy by bridging the innovation gap, leading to an acceleration of emissions reductions, increased implementation of technological innovations and enhanced, forward-thinking policy agenda setting.
Professor Helen Marshall, Vice Chancellor, The University of Salford said: "We are proud to be part of the new Greater Manchester Energy Innovation Agency, which represents a new step forward in the Greater Manchester universities, industry and Combined Authority all working together towards solving a critical problem for the city-region; achieving zero carbon by 2038.
"Combining our own research excellence in energy and buildings, such as our major investment in Energy House 2.0, with the other Greater Manchester universities research excellence in the field of energy, we can lead the way in the decarbonisation agenda and create the clean, high value jobs and businesses that this agenda has the potential to bring."
While the UK Government set a binding target of 2050 to achieve net zero carbon, Greater Manchester set its own more ambitious 2038 deadline to decarbonise its energy system. The EIA will be a significant contributing factor in aiming to reach the target in the hope the area can be a pace-setter for the rest of the country.
Councillor Andrew Western, GMCA Lead for the Green City-Region, said: "Tackling the transition to a zero carbon society is going to take a group effort. The combined insight of Greater Manchester's universities, industry partners and GMCA will enable us to work together to achieve this goal. We're already making good progress towards the goals of our Five-Year Environment Plan, which alongside achieving decarbonisation, also includes improving air quality, protecting the natural environment and building resilience to climate change. By establishing partnerships such as the GM Energy Innovation Agency we are in a much better position to support our commitment to become carbon neutral by 2038, creating a greener city-region for years to come."
