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New carbon capture clusters confirmed for Scotland and Humber
Published August 8, 2023
The UK government has confirmed it will provide funding for two new carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) clusters.
The clusters, known as Acorn and Viking, are located in Northeast Scotland and the Humber respectively. These will be the third and fourth CCUS clusters to be deployed following the the HyNet cluster in North West England and North Wales, and the East Coast Cluster in the Teesside and Humber.
The government has committed to provide up to £20 billion in funding for early deployment of CCUS, unlocking private investment and job creation. The four clusters are intended to be the basis for a CCUS industry in the UK, with a number of other clusters under development across the country. CCUS is expected to bring multiple benefits including creating and future-proofing jobs, bringing inward economic investment, developing green-tech industries and helping decarbonise Scotland and the UK.
Government departments and regulators will report back by the end of the year on progress made on CCUS projects in the North Sea. Acorn is expected to be a major contributor towards meeting the UK and Scotland’s carbon reduction targets, able to serve emitters connected by pipeline and ship. The Viking CCS cluster alone will be vital in supporting the UK to meet its net zero targets.
“This is an important step forward for carbon capture in the UK,” commented Jeremy Nicolson, Alfa Energy’s corporate affairs officer. “It’ll be especially welcome news for industrial energy users in the Humber cluster and elsewhere that are relying on this critical technology to achieve their net zero ambitions.”
In 2020, Net Zero Carbon talked to David Talbot, CEO of Catch UK, the region’s industrial membership and skills organisation, about the plans to deliver a revolution in green economic development, production of fuel, and carbon capture and storage. Listen to the interview here.
Tags CCUS David Talbot Decarbonisation Jeremy Nicholson Net Zero
