The UK must significantly expand its maritime carbon transport capabilities within the next 18 months to meet 2030 storage targets, requiring both a new fleet of specialised CO2 carriers and dedicated port infrastructure across four industrial clusters, according to Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) chief executive Olivia Powis.
"Shipping is not going to replace pipelines, but there are projects in the UK that need shipping because they are not located near a storage site and it also provides more flexibility and access to CO2 stores," says Ms Powis.
The UK government’s CCUS strategy centres on four initial clusters projects: HyNet and East Coast Cluster (Track-1), plus Viking and the Scottish Cluster (Track-2). And there are others across the country including Peak, South Wales Industrial Cluster and 7CO2. Many of the CO2 stores are looking to accommodate specific maritime infrastructure based on location and storage access.
Technical requirements for CO2 vessels are highly specific, with three possible operating modes: low pressure (-55°C to -40°C at 5-10 barg), medium pressure (-30°C to -20°C at 15-20 barg), or high pressure (0°C to 15°C at 35-50 barg). A 20,000-tonne capacity vessel operating weekly rotations could transport 1M tonnes annually.
The recent delivery of Northern Pioneer, Norway’s first specialised CO2 carrier for its Northern Lights project, demonstrates technical feasibility but highlights industry constraints. With global shipyard capacity limited to 8-10 specialised gas carriers annually and 36-month lead times, enabling procurement decisions is crucial, says Ms Powis.
Cross-border shipping faces specific regulatory challenges. Two key changes are needed, says Ms Powis: a bilateral agreement between the UK and EU under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement for mutual recognition of CCS regulations, and amendments to both EU and UK Emissions Trading Schemes to accommodate cross-border CO2 storage.
"Policy remains the biggest obstacle to transporting CO2 across the EU-UK border – something that is otherwise technically feasible," she adds.
Industry momentum is building, with CCSA membership growing from 40 companies in 2020 to 132 today. There are more than 90 UK projects at various stages of development looking to capture and store 50-60M tonnes of CO2 annually by 2035. There is also high-level political backing in the UK, says Ms Powis, with the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Secretary of State all explicitly endorsing CCUS technology.
As the government seeks to achieve its key missions – such as making the UK the fastest-growing economy in the G7 by the end of this Parliament and cementing its status as a clean-energy superpower – Ms Powis highlighted the vital role of rapidly scaling up CCUS in helping Ministers meet their objectives.
"At the same time, if we don’t act now, those industries will have to decarbonise another way, or not at all, risking missed targets," she warns.
source: riviera news
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