Millions of tonnes of captured carbon dioxide (CO2) could be transported via road, rail,
barge or ship, revolutionising the way it reaches offshore
storage sites, helping more businesses cut emissions.
The government has today (7 May) launched a call for evidence for
innovative new options for transporting CO2, on top of the existing network
of pipelines, supporting industry on the path to net zero.
Carbon capture technology works by capturing CO2 before it reaches the atmosphere,
storing it safely underground in offshore sites and reducing
emissions. The Climate Change Committee has described the
technology as a necessity for meeting net zero targets.
With the ability to transport the CO2 by modes such as rail or shipping,
industries across the country will be better primed to adopt
carbon capture technology. As well as creating jobs and boosting
the economy, it will help to transport CO2 in a way to suit businesses' needs as
part of their green transition.
Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Minister said:
The UK has the right geology, talent and expertise to build a
world-leading carbon capture industry, driving investment and
economic growth to our industrial heartlands.
Businesses right across the country want to do their bit to
reduce carbon emissions and I want to hear from them how we can
deliver greener solutions for industry by giving them
ever-greater access to this game-changing technology.
The UK has a distinctive geology and the capacity to store up to
20-30 million tonnes of CO2
annually by 2030, equivalent to removing 4 to 6 million cars from
UK roads each year and supporting 50,000 jobs.
The government is championing this industry with a significant
investment of up to £20 billion – one of the biggest in
Europe.
The Call for Evidence delivers on a commitment made in the
landmark Carbon capture, usage and
storage (CCUS) vision
published last December, which set out government plans for a new
competitive UK carbon capture, usage and storage market by
2035.
Welcoming the move, Ben Burggraaf, CEO of Net Zero Industry Wales,
said:
Deploying non-pipeline transport solutions, to ship captured
CO2 from South Wales to a
permanent store, is pivotal to the delivery of the South Wales
Industrial Cluster Plan and kickstart the green industrial
revolution in the region.
It is anticipated that projects using non-pipeline transport
methods will be eligible for selection as carbon capture projects
from 2025 onwards.
The Call for Evidence will run for 10 weeks and industry can
share their views
here.
