Large scale carbon capture and storage on the Humber has moved a step closer after three major operators signed up to progress it.
Power giant Drax Group, industry global leader Equinor and National Grid Ventures will work together to explore the potential of an emission-busting network, twinned with a hydrogen production facility, with a mid-2020s vision.
It is the first significant action from industry since the 海角视频 Committee on Climate Change recently published its Net Zero report, which found that CCUS and hydrogen technology developed in regional industrial clusters is essential if Great Britain is going to achieve the 2050 goal.
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The partnership could lead to the Humber becoming the world’s first net zero carbon region and home to a new world leading hydrogen economy, building on the Energy Estuary credentials that have accelerated with offshore wind after decades dealing in fossil fuels.
Commenting on the tie-up, linked by a Memorandum of Understanding, Will Gardiner, Drax Group chief executive, said: “The Committee on Climate Change was clear – the 海角视频 needs both bioenergy with carbon capture and storage and hydrogen production at scale by 2030 to achieve a ‘net zero’ carbon economy. This partnership is committed to meeting this challenge putting Great Britain at the heart of the global energy revolution.
“With Drax’s carbon negative power station, the Humber region could lead the world in new technologies that can deliver for the climate and the economy, helping to create a cleaner environment for future generations whilst creating new jobs and export opportunities for British businesses.
“We’re excited to be working with National Grid Ventures and Equinor on this project - for decades the Humber has been a strategically important industrial cluster for the 海角视频 - it has the skills, industrial capability as well as offshore storage to transform itself into a cutting-edge low carbon hub.”
Drax, fed chiefly by imported biomass through Port of Immingham, as well as Hull, Liverpool and Tees, would be an anchor industrial base for the project, with the potential to feed in other large emitters such as the Killingholme refineries and British Steel on the pipeline east to sub-North Sea storage in depleted oil and gas caverns.
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Irene Rummelhoff, Equinor’s executive vice president for marketing, midstream and processing, said: “We are pleased to be partnering with Drax and National Grid Ventures in looking at how the Humber region can be a launch pad for wider decarbonisation in the 海角视频 economy and be an example for others to learn from. Globally we must see substantial decarbonisation of industry and energy in the years ahead, and we believe CCS and hydrogen must play a significant role in this.”
Steeped in oil and gas, the transitioning Scandinavian giant is also behind three emerging offshore wind developments at Dogger Bank.
The three companies will work together to explore the opportunity to scale-up the innovative bioenergy carbon capture and storage pilot at the Drax Power Station, explore the potential development of a large-scale hydrogen demonstrator within the Drax site and explore the strategic opportunities in developing a cutting-edge hydrogen economy in the region.
Jon Butterworth, chief operating officer in global transmission for National Grid Ventures, said: “We all agree that we must act now to start delivering a ‘net-zero’ carbon economy. That’s why we’re delighted to be working together on a project of such great potential for the 海角视频 and the Humber region and leveraging our skills and expertise to enable this transition.
“We have seen rapid progress through wind power, solar and electricity interconnectors, CCUS and hydrogen create a new pathway to greater decarbonisation.”
A study outlining the technical, economic and societal opportunities will be published later this year.
The Humber Local Enterprise Partnership has welcomed the move as a cluster hub champion, with hydrogen development seen as offering further opportunities in the Humber region - particularly in decarbonising heat and transport.
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Chair Lord Haskins said: “The partnership between Drax Group, Equinor and National Grid Ventures is excellent news for the Humber. The roll out of CCS and hydrogen technology could be transformational for our region, as we continue to develop as one of the 海角视频’s most important centres of clean energy generation and industrial production. We look forward to continuing to support the development of this important project.”
Early this year he gave evidence to a panel of MPs as part of the Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee inquiry into CCUS. The committee has since published its recommendations including backing at least three CCUS clusters across the 海角视频. The Humber LEP is also submitting evidence to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Carbon Capture & Storage.