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Net Zero Teesside
n By Hajera Blagg
and gas sector’s transition away from high emission fossil fuels by using the transferable expertise of their workforce.”
The funding is for two carbon capture sites, Net Zero Teesside and HyNet on Merseyside, and the government hopes to have more projects starting by 2030. On site work is planned to start by the end of the year, and in the case of Net Zero Teesside, be operating by 2027.
Carbon capture, usage and storage technology has been around for decades and removes CO2 emissions from processes before they reach the atmosphere. The CO2 is then stored beneath the seabed.
The government feels that the UK has a global leading geological advantage, with “the UK Continental Shelf accounting for approximately 25 per cent of Europe’s CO2 storage potential and which can safely store 78bn tonnes of CO2.”
Adding that this is “enough capacity to store 200 years’ worth of emissions - making CCUS a revolutionary method in tackling the climate crisis and helping industry to decarbonise.”
Climate change is having an increasing impact on the world with extreme weather events such as storms and flooding becoming more common and rising temperatures affecting the health of thousands of people, including many outdoor workers in sectors such as construction and agriculture.
So it is vital that large scale infrastructure projects like CCUS are built as soon as possible to reduce the amount of CO2 pumped into the atmosphere from manufacturing processes.
The government says that the investment follows “advice from the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC), who described CCUS as critical for decarbonising the UK’s heavy industry and a “necessity” for the UK to reach its legally binding target for net zero emissions by 2050”.
It added that the International Energy Agency and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change “have endorsed CCUS as a critical tool in decarbonisation, particularly in heavy industry such as cement and steel.”
23 unite buildingWORKER Spring 2025
However, these projects are not just good for the environment. Net Zero Teesside aims to sustain 3,000 construction jobs, whilst HyNet in Merseyside promises 4,000 jobs in the sector.
And because the projects include a usage element they will not only store away the CO2, but they will use it to provide low carbon power to millions of homes across the regions.
The development of CCUS is seen by the government as “game-changing” when it comes to its “mission to tackle climate change” and will help protect the environment from harmful emissions at a time when the UK has seen a year of record-breaking temperatures.
James Richardson, the CCC’s acting chief executive, said, “It’s fantastic to see funding coming through for these big projects. We can’t hit the country’s targets without CCUS so this commitment to it is very reassuring. “We know these projects will provide good, reliable jobs in communities that need them. It is important that prosperity for these parts of the country is built into a clean energy future.”
Similarly, the International Energy Agency and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has endorsed CCUS as a critical tool in decarbonisation, particularly in heavy industry such as cement and steel.
Major CCSU projects can have a knock-on effect in helping build economic growth through the huge supply chains involved, supporting thousands of jobs and creating the infrastructure to help major industry companies decarbonise.
Unite national officer Jason Poulter welcomed the announcement, saying, “It’s good news that, after years of under investment, the Labour government has committed to funding large scale infrastructure projects across the UK.
“The billions of pounds of investment in new carbon capture, utilisation and storage projects in Merseyside and Teesside will not only help achieve the country’s Net Zero commitments, but it will provide thousands of good quality construction jobs across the north of England.
“Unite will be working in the regions to ensure there are onsite agreements that provide a safe environment for workers in these vital projects.”
Olivia Powis, CEO of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, welcomed the announcement, saying it, “shows that decarbonisation does not mean de-industrialisation, and highlights the UK’s leadership in these important technologies.
“The industry has made significant strides towards deploying carbon capture projects and by establishing the first two CCUS clusters in the North West and North East of England, it means that we can deliver thousands of new highly skilled jobs whilst reducing our CO2 emissions and retaining existing jobs in our industrial areas in critical industries like cement and manufacturing across the UK.”
• For more on carbon capture see pages 24 to 26
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