Twenty “innovative” projects have been shortlisted for the next stage of the Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) clusters process, which the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) says represents an important step toward a net zero economy.
BEIS says the UK has one of the largest potential carbon dioxide storage capacities in Europe, making it one of the most attractive business environments for CCUS technology. It says this is thanks to the North Sea, which can be used to store captured carbon under the seabed.
The BEIS says today’s shortlist follows the commitment in the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, to deploy CCUS in two industrial clusters by the mid-2020s, and a further two clusters by 2030. It continues that these clusters will support the government’s ambitions to decarbonise industry and put the UK at the “forefront” of the growing carbon capture market.
In November 2021, the HyNet cluster in North West England and North Wales, and the East Coast Cluster in the Teesside and Humber were selected as Track 1 clusters, for deployment by the mid-2020s. These clusters will be the first to be considered for support under the government’s CCUS Programme, which includes the £1bn CCS Infrastructure Fund (CIF).
These projects are likely now to be among the first of their kind in the UK to deploy carbon capture and storage technology for energy recovery, which is an important and significant stride on our journey towards a net-zero recycling and waste management sector by 2040.
The shortlisted projects will now also be considered for government funding support to join one of these clusters, to use carbon capture technology to help decarbonise their businesses.
The BEIS says the 20 projects announced today represent a range of innovative CCUS technologies that will capture carbon emissions, preventing them from being released into the atmosphere. The Government department says carbon capture technologies offer the enormous economic potential for these regions, helping to attract new private investment and support new job opportunities.
This announcement means the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility (TV ERF) project has taken a significant step closer to being able to provide a zero-carbon waste management solution to more than one-and-a-half million people living across the North-East.
The Environmental Services Association (ESA) has welcomed the news that the shortlist includes a number of energy-recovery from waste projects.
Charlotte Rule, Climate and Energy Policy Advisor for the ESA, said: “We are very pleased to see a number of energy recovery projects shortlisted by BEIS to progress to the next stage of the cluster sequencing process.
“These projects are likely now to be among the first of their kind in the UK to deploy carbon capture and storage technology for energy recovery, which is an important and significant stride on our journey towards a net-zero recycling and waste management sector by 2040.
“It is therefore vital that the Government continues to back this process following the Conservative leadership race in the autumn and grasps the opportunity to support the ambitious decarbonisation of our sector (which accounts for eight per cent of UK emissions) with both hands.” ENDS
The Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility
The TV ERF project, being developed by seven partner authorities in the North-East of England, has been invited to enter into the “due diligence” phase of the process with BEIS prior to negotiations to establish funding support – although final funding will be subject to a decision by Government under the new Conservative leader from the Autumn.
Twenty-five ICC projects were accepted into Phase Two of the Cluster Sequencing Process having met the eligibility criteria and the TV ERF is one of thirteen shortlisted to progress to the next stage.
The TV ERF is a vital infrastructure project for the North-East and will provide Darlington, Durham, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton with a secure, reliable and sustainable treatment solution for municipal waste from 2026, which also has the potential to become carbon-negative (removing more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits) if CCS can be successfully deployed.
This brings us a significant step closer to being able to deliver a zero-carbon waste treatment solution for more than a million and a half residents across the North-East – supporting the net-zero ambitions of the project partner authorities and making a contribution towards national net-zero targets
Once operational, the energy recovery facility will treat up to 450,000 tonnes of residual waste every year and generate nearly 50MW of electricity – or enough to power the equivalent of 60,000 average homes. Three bidders – SUEZ, Viridor and Green Recovery Projects Ltd (FCC and Icon Infrastructure) – are currently bidding to design, finance, build and operate the TVERF, which will be situated at Teesworks on the site of the former British Steel works, where it is anticipated that the project will contribute to the economic regeneration of the area. The procurement process is being led by Hartlepool Borough Council on behalf of the project partners.
Subject to progression and successful negotiations with BEIS, the chosen bidder will be required to develop and operate the necessary CCS infrastructure under the contract.
Hartlepool Managing Director, Denise McGuckin, said: “We are thrilled that the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility project has been shortlisted by BEIS to progress to the next stage of the cluster sequencing process. This brings us a significant step closer to being able to deliver a zero-carbon waste treatment solution for more than a million and a half residents across the North-East – supporting the net-zero ambitions of the project partner authorities and making a contribution towards national net-zero targets.
The project is due to become operational from 2026, which means that the TVERF could become one of the first facilities of its kind in the UK to deploy CCS infrastructure and we look forward to working with BEIS and other organisations in the East Coast Cluster to make this a reality.”
