Freeport initiative aims to link East Midlands to the coast through ‘green’ corridor

Freeport East and East Midlands Freeport are forging a new partnership to support a green freight corridor that will help decarbonise transport and drive enhanced skills and employment initiatives along the length of one of the UK’s most important transportation routes. Building on the opportunities created by the Government’s recently published Freeports Delivery Roadmap, the initiative will support the decarbonisation of transport flows between the two Freeport locations. By working together, the Freeports will accelerate the technologies, business models, innovation and infrastructure needed to drive decarbonisation by utilising green hydrogen, electric charging systems and novel technology applications, such as digital twins.

Green Corridors are already an established part of the maritime decarbonisation sector. Delivering a green corridor initiative between the UK’s largest container port and the heart of the Midlands logistics Golden Triangle offers the opportunity to combine maritime and land transport decarbonisation initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of goods entering and leaving the UK. Every day more than 5,000 trucks and freight trains leave the ports in the Freeport East area, with most heading towards the Midlands and onwards to other part of the UK.

East Midlands Freeport, which is centred on the Golden Triangle for logistics, road, rail and the UK’s largest dedicated air cargo operation at East Midlands Airport, provides significant opportunities to drive clean fuel applications that will influence the whole of the UK. Projects already under way that will support the corridor include development of green logistics infrastructure in Felixstowe, Stowmarket and East Midlands Gateway. East Midlands Freeport is supporting the transition of the UK’s last coal fired power station at Ratcliffe on Soar to a clean energy production hub, while Freeport East is also developing a Green Hydrogen Hub that will support clean fuels for transport decarbonisation.

Tom Newman-Taylor, Chief Executive of East Midlands Freeport,said: “This exciting initiative illustrates how Freeports can be forerunners in the decarbonisation of transport and industry. We’re looking forward to working with Freeport East and our partners to deliver greener freight along this important corridor. With large-scale clean energy investments we can drive demand and opportunities for greener logistics, using our central location to deliver widespread change.”

Will Morlidge, Chief Executive of D2N2 LEP and Co-Chair of East Midlands Hydrogen, said: “I wholeheartedly support this commitment from East Midlands Freeport and Freeport East.

Accelerating hydrogen freight decarbonisation is one of the seven priorities for East Midlands Hydrogen and this agreement will play a key role in achieving it.

We’ll continue to work closely with East Midlands Freeport and our other East Midlands Hydrogen partners to drive this important priority forward.”