TEESSIDE can become a European pioneer in a revolutionary energy scheme, an industry project has claimed.

The Teesside Collective, honed by a number of North-East companies, aims to place the region at the heart of carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Bosses will today launch their vision at the House of Commons, saying their plans could make Teesside Europe’s first CCS zone.

They said it could help the UK’s target of cutting carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 by capturing and storing emissions produced from burning fossil fuels and preventing them from entering the atmosphere.

They added it would allow a range of sectors to hold emissions before sending them into a shared pipeline network for permanent storage under the North Sea.

Amec Foster Wheeler, which operates a Darlington process and energy site, has carried out tests, which it says show the project is feasible, and Redcar steelmaker SSI UK and process industry firms Boc, Lotte Chemical UK and Growhow, which face worries over rising carbon permit prices, are also supporting the venture.

Sir David King, a former Government chief scientific advisor on climate change, said the region was perfectly equipped for the move.

Sir David, who is now the UK’s special representative for climate change, said: “Teesside is in the right place at the right time to get ahead of the curve.

“It can insulate itself from future carbon costs and put the UK on the map as the go to place for clean industrial investment.”

The project comes after Tees Valley Unlimited local enterprise partnership (TVU) was awarded £1m by the Government to develop a case for making Teesside a CCS hub, which is expected to be completed by the summer.

The Northern Echo previously reported how experts said CCS was a potential way to use energy from Tees Valley’s industries to heat businesses, homes, hospitals and council buildings, with larger CO2 producers, such as fertiliser makers and steel companies, capturing and storing emissions for collection and use in other industries, such as advanced oil recovery.

Stephen Catchpole, TVU managing director, said the Teesside Collective plans could have a major impact on the North-East.

He added: “The effect of a successful CCS network in Teesside would be a game changer for Tees Valley, the region and the UK economy.”