The NSTA emphasizes the critical role of CCS in the energy transition. “We are pleased by the ongoing enthusiasm from industry, and aware that pace is needed as we help to effect the transition, and that is why we are calling for nominations now,” said Stuart Payne, NSTA’s Chief Executive. He added: “Carbon storage is a crucial part of the energy transition and an essential element of the path to net zero. We’ve been talking about carbon storage for many years, but now we have reached the milestone of having permitted two projects which will turbocharge the UK’s drive to unlock investment, jobs and economic growth and reach net zero emissions by 2050.”
The nomination process encourages companies to propose sites where they have conducted prior technical assessments, aiming to streamline applications and accelerate project timelines. Submissions must include spatial data and a high-level project description, enabling the NSTA, Crown Estate Scotland, and The Crown Estate to assess spatial planning and avoid conflicts with other offshore activities, such as windfarms or tidal energy projects.
The UK Continental Shelf is estimated to have the capacity to store up to 78 gigatonnes of CO2 in depleted reservoirs and saline aquifers, offering significant potential for CCS development. The NSTA will collaborate with government and industry stakeholders to evaluate proposals and align licensing with seabed leasing, ensuring efficient use of marine resources.
The UK government has committed up to £21.7 billion over 25 years to position the country as a leader in CCS. This builds on the success of the world’s first large-scale carbon storage licensing round, which concluded in September 2023 with 21 licenses awarded. Eni’s Liverpool Bay CCS project, one of the recently permitted initiatives, will support the HyNet industrial cluster in North West England and North Wales. CO2 captured from regional plants will be stored in Eni’s depleted gas reservoirs beneath the Irish Sea, utilizing new and repurposed infrastructure.
To advance the Liverpool Bay project, Eni awarded contracts to Italian firms Saipem, for a CO2 compression station, and Rosetti Marino, for four storage platforms, demonstrating progress in the UK’s CCS ambitions.
