Carbon capture |
HyNet and East Coast clusters capture Track-1 status
Following an arcane process described as “cluster sequencing”, two UK CCUS clusters, considered capable of starting decarbonisation activities by 2025, have been selected as potential frontrunners
The UK prime minister’s “ten point plan for a green industrial revolution”, published in November 2020, made a commitment to deploy CCUS (carbon capture, utilisation and storage) in a minimum of two industrial clusters by the mid-2020s, and four by 2030 at the latest, with the aim of using CCUS technology to capture and store 20-30 MtCO2
per year by 2030.
CCUS was deemed crucial for industrial decarbonisation, low carbon power, engineered greenhouse gas removal and delivering the government’s 5 GW by 2030 low carbon hydrogen production ambition. In October 2021, it was announced that Phase 1 of the government’s “cluster sequencing process” had completed the evaluation of five cluster proposals submitted, with the aim of selecting cluster schemes for support through the £1 billion CCS Infrastructure Fund, which aims to “provide industry with the certainty required to deploy CCUS at pace and at scale.” Two cluster proposals were selected as “Track-1” projects: the HyNet Cluster (a CCUS and hydrogen energy project aiming to deliver low carbon hydrogen and CCUS in the north west of England and North Wales); and the East
HyNet
Coast Cluster (aiming to deploy CCUS across Humber and Teesside). These “Track-1” projects, considered capable of starting decarbonisation operations by 2025, will be taken forward into further negotiations. If the clusters are found to “represent value for money for the consumer and the taxpayer then subject to final decisions of ministers, they will receive support under the government’s CCUS programme.”
The Scottish Cluster (which is centred around the Acorn CCS project based in the north east of Scotland) was selected as a reserve cluster “if a back-up is needed.” A reserve cluster was described as one “which met the eligibility criteria and performed to a good standard against the evaluation criteria.” As such, the government said it would “continue to engage with the Scottish Cluster throughout Phase-2 of the sequencing process, to ensure it can continue its development and planning”, meaning that if government “chooses to discontinue engagement with a cluster in Track-1”, it can “engage with this reserve cluster instead.” Deploying CCUS will be a significant undertaking and these are new major infrastructure projects for a new sector of the
economy, the government says, “carrying with them significant risks to deliver by the mid- 2020s.” The government says it will therefore “continue to play a role in providing long-term certainty to these projects to manage these risks and bring forward the UK’s first CCUS clusters.” The HyNet consortium is led by Eni UK and includes Progressive Energy, CF Fertilisers, Essar Oil UK, Hanson Cement, Viridor, Ince BioEnergy, Fulcrum Bioenergy, University of Chester, Peel NRE, Cadent, INOVYN, Uniper, Tarmac, Lhoist and Breedon.
It aims to substantially reduce carbon emissions in north west England and north Wales over the next 25 years. The HyNet development scenario for industrial decarbonisation includes hydrogen production and subsequent distribution to industry for fuel switching, through the development of a regional hydrogen market within a dedicated supply network. It will also incorporate the direct capture of emissions from industries where fuel switching is not an option. Through its dedicated affiliate, Liverpool Bay CCS Limited, Eni UK will develop and operate both the onshore and offshore transportation and storage of CO2
, providing a service for emitters to
24 | November/December 2021 |
www.modernpowersystems.com
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