UK CCS projects at risk amid uncertainty over support

Pipeline of projects has potential to exceed government’s 2035 target, but greater clarity on policy needed to unlock investment, says Carbon Capture and Storage Association

The UK’s pipeline of proposed carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects is at risk of falling away unless the government accelerates its rollout of support mechanisms for the sector, the industry’s trade association has warned. Industry body the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) has identified a project pipeline capable of storing 70mn t/yr of CO₂, exceeding the UK’s net-zero strategy goal of 50mn t/yr by 2035. However, the majority of this pipeline is dependent on government support. “Although there is a capture project pipeline that can meet the 2035 ambition, there is currently limited visibility on commercial incentives for CCUS in the UK,” the CCSA says in a report, titled