The United Kingdom’s first large scale carbon capture projects have received the green light. BP, along with Equinor and Total reaching a Final Investment Decision (FID) for the two projects.
Known as The Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) and Net Zero Teesside Power (NZT Power), the two projects will proceed to the execution phase. The green signal comes after selecting nine contractors in March 2024.
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Execution Phase Details
Construction for the two projects will begin in 2025. Operations for the projects is expected to commence in 2028. NEP will transport and store CO2 from the East Coast Cluster. The offshore pipeline network spanning 145 kilometers will help transport nearly 4 million tonnes of CO2.
NZT Power, a joint venture similar to NEP, will capture two million tonnes of CO2 annually. With a capacity of 860 megawatts, NZT Power might generate over 3,000 construction jobs and 1,000 operational positions.
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Support for Transition
BP’s senior vice president of hydrogen and CCS, Felipe Arbelaez, emphasized the collaboration between public and private sectors to deliver low carbon energy projects. He stressed these projects’ importance and value for the region, partners, and customers.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband lauded the announcement. He referred to it as a new era for clean energy in Britain. He highlighted that the projects would enhance multiple aspects. The aspects cover energy security and job creation along with supporting the UK’s aim of becoming a clean energy superpower
UK’s Carbon Capture Goals
The CCS projects are part of the UK government’s broader investment plan involving $28 billion. The plan involves the development of two carbon capture clusters over the next 25 years. The East Coast Cluster is the first, with HyNet Liverpool Bay expected to follow soon. The UK aims to store nearly 20 to 30 million tonnes of CO2 annually until the end of the decade.