East Midlands Superhub 

City Science developed a Strategic Outline Case (SOC) for Midlands connect and Midlands Net Zero Hub, to support the delivery of a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) refuelling superhub in the East Midlands.  

Overview

City Science was commisioned by Midlands Connect and Midlands Net Zero Hub to develop a SOC for a zero-emission HGV refuelling superhub. The SOC aims to enable and accelerate development proposals for a superhub in or around the East Midlands Freeport area. To achieve this, we developed an evidence base and identified a preferred intervention to support the five cases that make up the SOC.  

Scope

Decarbonising HGVs is a national government priority, with all new HGVs sold from 2040 onwards required to be zero-emission. To support a successful transition, adequate and well-located clean energy refuelling infrastructure is required.  

Currently, the Freeport area supports a substantial amount of HGV movements, creating a substantial amount of carbon emissions. For example, in 2019  East Midlands Airport and its surrounding areas was associated with 2,000 daily HGV movements resulting in 26 ktCO2e of carbon emissions. The objectives of the superhub are as follows: 

City Science Approach 

Our delivery of the SOC included:  

  1. Background Evidence Review: To ensure the project built on previous work and their findings, we conducted a policy review on both national and regional policies alongside an exisiting projects review. This enabled us to identify any gaps and review existing evidence from previous studies.  
  2. Identifying a Preferred Intervention: Assessing the key factors, including the choice of fuel technology, site accessibility (open or closed) and the location of the superhub. A methodology was developed to assess the optimal site and technology mix for the superhub. 
  3. Stakeholder Engagement: To provide insight into local needs, funding opportunities, and infrastructure constraints for the preferred intervention. The East Midlands Airport and Gateway Industrial Cluster (EMAGIC) location was selected with the preferred options below: 
  1. SOC Development: The SOC follows the Treasury’s Greenbook guidance and provides a comprehensive analysis which demonstrates that the superhub can support strategic ambition, such as decarbonisation goals. There are five cases that make up the SOC:  
  • Strategic Case: This provides an overview of the organisations leading the development of the superhub concept.  
  • Economic Case: An assessment of the benefits and disbenefits of each of the three shortlisted superhub options at the EMAGIC site.  
  • Financial Case: Assesses the costs and affordability of delivering each superhub option.  
  • Management Case: Defines the strategic governance role Midlands Connect will likely need to play in coordinating the relevant parties to oversee the delivery of the superhub by 2030.  
  • Commercial Case: Outlines the approach to delivering the superhub, considering key high-level risks, the range of delivery options available, and the procurement strategy.  

Outcomes 

The SOC identified that there is a strong case for delivery of an electricity-only superhub at the Freeport’s EMAGIC site, with an open market model. This option has shown better value for money and financial viability than options which include hydrogen refuelling.