Carbon capture and storage |
CCGT + CCS: Uniper’s Connah’s Quay and Killingholme in the running
Uniper is intending to submit a development consent application to the Planning Inspectorate in Q1 2025 for its Connah’s Quay Low Carbon Power project, a combined cycle plant to be constructed in Wales and equipped with carbon capture and storage. It has also recently announced that it is exploring potential development of a similar CCGT+CCS project in the UK’s Humber region, the Killingholme Low Carbon Power project
Connah’s Quay Low Carbon Power (CQLCP) if consented and developed, would be connected into the nearby HyNet CO2
Existing combined cycle power plant at Connah’s Quay (credit: Uniper)
transport and storage
infrastructure (to be operated by Eni), enabling the captured carbon dioxide to be sequestered in repurposed depleted offshore gas fields (also operated by Eni) in Liverpool Bay
So, Uniper particularly welcomed the UK government’s recent expressions of support and funding commitments for the so-called ‘Track 1’, ie leading, CCS clusters, HyNet and the East Coast Cluster.
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Connah’s Quay Low Carbon Power is a potential candidate for support under the UK government’s CCS ‘cluster sequencing’ process, specifically as part of an expanded HyNet CCS cluster (under the ‘Track 1 expansion’ plan). As part of the cluster sequencing process, CQLCP has passed the UK government’s “deliverability assessment” and will progress to the next stage of the process. Uniper is working towards a potential capacity of around 1.1 GW and up to a maximum of 1.38 GW of low-carbon power at Connah’s Quay, to be developed in two phases. The first phase of CQLCP could potentially be in operation by 2030, although a final investment decision has yet to be taken. Uniper emphasises that the project is at an early stage and final capacity will be determined following completion of a FEED (front end engineering design) study, due to start shortly.
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As part of the planning application process, a statutory public consultation was held from 8 October to 19 November 2024 and as of mid- November an Environmental Impact Assessment was underway.
Uniper intends to be completely carbon- neutral by 2040, with its installed generating capacity to be more than 80% zero-carbon by the early 2030s.
Key
1. Existing Connah’s Quay Power Station 2. Proposed Low Carbon Power Station 3. Temporary Construction Access 4. Electrical Connection Corridor 5.Water Connection Corridor 6. Existing Surface Water Outfall 7. Existing Connah’s Quay AGI
8. Access to Wildlife Hides 9. Construction and Indicative Enhancement Area 10. Repurposed CO2 11. Proposed CO2
Connection Corridor Connection Corridor
12. Proposed Flint AGI (HyNet CO2 13. Connah’s Quay North
Pipeline Project) Indicative Site Boundary
Phased Construction Area Construction Laydown Area
Ecological Safeguard Zone
Water Connection Corridor Indicative Construction Work Area
Illustrative site plan for Connah’s Quay Low Carbon Power project (credit: Uniper)
Carbon dioxide is captured and compressed for export.
Cooling is required for the process and is achieved by the evaporation of water in cooling towers.
Connah's Quay Low Carbon Power DCO boundary
Captured carbon dioxide is transported via an existing repurposed pipeline to the Flint AGI where it connects into the proposed HyNet CO pipeline.
Carbon dioxide is further compressed at Point of Ayr, Flintshire, and transported
Carbon is stored permanently 1km below Liverpool Bay.
Connah’s Quay is said by Uniper to be an “ideal location to establish a low carbon power station”, able to benefit from the hands-on expertise of the existing highly skilled workforce. There has been a power station on the site for over 70 years, starting with coal in the 1950s and currently a natural gas fuelled plant (4 x 345 MW combined cycle), meaning essential energy infrastructure is already in place, including an
Schematic of carbon dioxide transport and sequestration plan for Connah’s Quay Low Carbon Power project (credit: Uniper) 28 | January/February 2025|
www.modernpowersystems.com
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