Two carbon capture projects join HyNet Cluster

The additional projects join four existing Track-1 projects in the HyNet Cluster, which spans North Wales and North West England, after passing a deliverability assessment and the shortlisting phase of the Track-1 expansion (T-1x process).

The following projects have been prioritised to join the network:

• Connah’s Quay Low Carbon Power project, Uniper, in North Wales
• Ince Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (InBECCS), Evero Energy, in Cheshire

Four other projects are on standby should space become available.

Mike Lockett, Uniper UK Country Chair, commented: “Government’s support for the development of carbon capture and storage infrastructure, creating the framework needed for pioneering projects like our Connah’s Quay Low Carbon Power, is vital for moving towards clean power 2030 and at the same time maintaining a secure electricity supply.”

Elliot Renton, Evero CEO, added: “Being selected for negotiations to deliver the UK’s first BECCS facility is a significant milestone, and a clear signal of the government’s commitment to greenhouse gas removals.”

The projects that have been taken into negotiations include are currently on standby are:

• Essar Energy Transition Carbon Capture (EET ICC), EET Fuels
• Hydrogen Production Plant 2 (HPP2), EET Hydrogen and Progressive Energy
• Parc Adfer Energy from Waste Industrial Carbon Capture Project, Enfinium Group
• Silver Birch, Climeworks UK

The Runcorn Carbon Capture project is already on standby.

‘Securing the jobs of the future’

The HyNet Cluster will see new pipelines and manufacturing facilities be constructed, and existing power plants be repurposed to capture and store carbon emissions.

The government expects the network to support a total of 2,800 new jobs in the sector.

As part of the June Spending Review, the government announced £9.4 billion in capital funding for UK CCUS between now and 2029/30, with a focus on maximising deployment in the East Cost Cluster and the HyNet Cluster.

Discussing the new projects, Sarah Jones, Industry Minister, said: “We are securing the jobs of the future, the power for our homes and the protection of our planet by becoming world leaders on carbon capture and storage.”

Jo Stevens, Secretary of State for Wales, added: “This is another significant moment for the growing clean energy industry in Wales.

“We are making the UK a clean energy superpower and delivering the well-paid, highly-skilled jobs of the future in the process.”