The Liverpool Bay CCS Project: A Milestone in UK’s Clean Energy Industry
The Liverpool Bay CCS project, a key component of the UK’s HyNet Cluster aimed at supporting industries in the North West of England and North Wales, has successfully cleared its financial hurdles and is set to move into construction phase. This project, a partnership between Italian energy giant Eni and the UK Government, is poised to become one of the world’s most advanced CCS clusters.
The UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, along with Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi, recently announced the financial close of the project. The UK Government has allocated £21.7 billion ($29 billion) to be invested over 25 years across the first two CCS clusters in the country, with Eni taking on the role of operator for the CO2 transport and storage system of the HyNet Industrial Cluster.
Describing this development as the “launch of a whole new clean energy industry for our country,” Ed Miliband emphasized the job creation and industrial support this project would bring to the UK, boosting long-term growth and industrial competitiveness.
Project Overview
The Liverpool Bay CCS project will serve as the backbone of the HyNet Cluster, transporting carbon dioxide from capture plants across the North West of England and North Wales to Eni’s depleted natural gas reservoirs beneath the seabed in Liverpool Bay. The project involves repurposing offshore platforms, laying 149 km of pipelines, and constructing 35 km of new pipelines to connect industrial emitters to the CCS network.
Designed to support various industrial operations including cement manufacturing, energy from waste plants, and low-carbon hydrogen production, the HyNet Consortium aims to establish itself as one of the world’s first low-carbon clusters.
With a storage capacity of 4.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year in its initial phase, the project has the potential to increase to 10 million tonnes per year by the 2030s, catering to industries seeking efficient solutions for their carbon emissions.
Future Prospects
Construction of the Liverpool Bay CCS project is expected to commence this year, with a planned start-up in 2028 to align with industrial emitters in the HyNet Cluster. This initiative marks a significant step towards a sustainable future, showcasing the UK’s commitment to clean energy and environmental stewardship.