This project will identify the wider life cycle and ecosystem service opportunities and impact of land management for carbon. By directly linking the industrial clusters with the wider, rural community this project will determine the dynamic capacity of land and bio-based carbon storage. Although focused on the South Wales industrial cluster (SWIC), the approaches and methods can be applied more widely. We will work closely with IDRIC MIPs 5.2 and 1.3 (using funds from MIP 1.3 as additional resource for the LCA). The project will also help foster links between Supergen Bioenergy Hub and IDRIC. 

Building on South Wales’ position at the forefront of low carbon research we will open novel pathways for economic stimulus by the linking the economically important manufacturing and agriculture sectors. We aim to work with and link urban and rural economies including farming unions (NFU, FUW), industrial partners (Tata Steel) and policymakers (Natural Resources Wales). The project will identify wastes and by-products, such as CO₂, light and heat, from industry and how they can be used by local communities and the possibility for implementing a circular economy between industry and communities.

The research will produce detailed case studies, linked directly to local challenges and demonstrate opportunities where carbon storage can be achieved. The case studies will highlight time scales, temporal nature of carbon capture, dynamic biomass carbon modelling and how this can link to industrial emission reduction.