UK launches first carbon storage licensing round
Government offers 13 areas for offshore storage as interest from potential developers hits unprecedented levels
The UK has launched its first licensing round for offshore carbon storage, inviting bids for the rights to develop projects in 13 areas across the North and Irish seas. The move comes in response to unprecedented interest from companies keen to enter the carbon storage market, says regulator the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), which is administering the process. The areas offered are off the coasts of Aberdeen, Teesside, Liverpool and Lincolnshire and are in the southern North Sea, central North Sea, northern North Sea and eastern Irish Sea. Potential sites are made up of a mixture of saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas fields. Developers have until 13 September to submit applica
Also in this section
12 March 2026
Role of world’s largest carbon cap-and-trade market under scrutiny as war in Iran threatens to drive EU energy costs to unsustainable levels
10 March 2026
Europe urgently needs to bring more projects to FID, as CCS investors warn they might divert capital to faster-growing regions
9 January 2026
A shift in perspective is needed on the carbon challenge, the success of which will determine the speed and extent of emissions cuts and how industries adapt to the new environment
2 January 2026
This year may be a defining one for carbon capture, utilisation and storage in the US, despite the institutional uncertainty






