In the UK’s race to achieve net zero, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has evolved from a long-debated concept to a practical and scalable solution. With heavy industry, power generation, and hydrogen production still generating unavoidable emissions, CCS offers a realistic way to reduce carbon at source and store it safely underground.
The UK is now at a pivotal stage. It has the geology, the infrastructure, and the industrial needs. But what’s making CCS real is the development of full-scale projects supported by targeted government funding and private sector backing. These pilot schemes are not just proof of concept. They are laying the foundation for a national CCS network.
What is CCS and Why Does the UK Need It?
Carbon Capture and Storage involves trapping carbon dioxide (CO₂) before it’s released into the atmosphere, transporting it via pipeline or ship, and storing it deep underground. Typically, in depleted oil and gas fields or saline aquifers. In sectors where emissions are hard to eliminate (steel, cement, refining), CCS provides a way to operate more cleanly without shutting down production altogether.
The UK is uniquely positioned for CCS. The North Sea basin offers ideal geology for permanent storage. Decades of oil and gas exploration have left behind pipelines, wells, and skills that can be repurposed for this cleaner mission. A large part of the CCS build-out is about leveraging the UK’s offshore legacy in a new context.
UK CCS Pilot Projects
The government has designated two leading “Track 1” CCS clusters, HyNet and the East Coast Cluster, as the first wave of large-scale projects to receive support under the Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge.
HyNet North West
HyNet covers a major industrial zone across North West England and North Wales. It plans to capture emissions from hydrogen production facilities and existing industrial plants. CO₂ will be piped to offshore storage under Liverpool Bay.
- Projected to remove up to 10 million tonnes of CO₂ per year by the early 2030s.
- Utilises existing gas infrastructure, keeping project costs manageable.
- Strong private-public collaboration across energy and manufacturing sectors.
East Coast Cluster
Combining Net Zero Teesside and Zero Carbon Humber, this initiative is based around two of the UK’s most carbon-intensive regions. It involves capturing emissions from gas power stations, hydrogen plants, and industry before transporting CO₂ to the Endurance saline aquifer under the North Sea.
- Could capture and store over 20 million tonnes annually by the mid-2030s.
- Brings together oil majors, utilities, and local councils under a shared decarbonisation vision.
- Tied to the development of blue hydrogen and flexible power generation.
Acorn Project (Scotland)
Though not selected in the first round, Acorn is being fast-tracked under Track 2 and is expected to play a vital role. Located at the St Fergus Gas Terminal, Acorn aims to capture CO₂ from existing natural gas infrastructure and heavy industry.
- Uses the disused Goldeneye pipeline for offshore transport.
- Plans for international CO₂ imports via port terminals.
- Designed to be scalable and serve as a hub for northern CCS development.
What Comes Next?
In a push toward net zero, the UK plans to cut 20 to 30 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year by 2030 using carbon capture solutions. Delivering this means:
- Finalising the regulatory framework for CO₂ storage licenses and long-term liability.
- Building a national CO₂ transport network to connect emitters with offshore storage sites.
- Launching a revenue support mechanism to attract investment and make CCS financially viable.
- Creating a skilled CCS workforce and supply chain, especially in coastal regions.
CCS will also be essential for low-carbon hydrogen, particularly blue hydrogen, and for negative emissions technologies like BECCS (Bioenergy with CCS), where CO₂ is removed from the atmosphere.
Conclusion
CCS has moved from theory to practice. It’s already being deployed, and momentum is building. The success of current pilot schemes will shape how quickly and efficiently wider adoption can happen, and the future outlook is very promising.
For the UK, this is about more than carbon. It’s about jobs, investment, and using the country’s natural advantages to lead a new low-carbon industrial chapter.
The groundwork is set. Now, delivery matters.
