PLANS for a groundbreaking carbon capture programme on Teesside have taken a huge step forward with deals being agreed for its engineering and design.

Energy giant bp, the operator of the Northern Endurance Partnership, has awarded an offshore engineering & design contract to Genesis and Costain has got the onshore contract - both for the East Coast Cluster project, a collaboration between Teesside and the Humber which account for nearly 50% of all UK industrial cluster emissions.

The project aims to play a major role in levelling up across the country, with the potential to support an average of more than 25,000 jobs a year between 2023 and 2050.

Read more: BP works with Redcar College to boost skills for new tech

The East Coast Cluster offers a mix of low-carbon projects, including industrial carbon capture, low-carbon hydrogen production, negative emissions power, and power with carbon capture.

The Northern Endurance Partnership - a joint venture comprising bp, Equinor, National Grid Ventures, Shell, and Total Energies – will enable the East Coast Cluster by developing the common infrastructure needed to transport CO2 from emitters across the Humber and Teesside to secure offshore storage in the Endurance aquifer in the Southern North Sea.

Genesis will deliver more than 250km of subsea pipeline, two landfalls and a subsea injection system connected to six wells, while Costain will deliver the onshore CO2 gathering pipeline that will serve Teesside.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It’s fantastic to hear about the latest step forward for this vital project – a key piece of the puzzle in getting Teesworks’ Net Zero Teesside Power CCUS project up and running. This is the infrastructure that will take the carbon produced by the power station offshore for storage, helping decarbonise the plant and, eventually, an entire industrial cluster.”

Andy Lane, MD of the NEP, said: “The award of the contracts is another important milestone for The East Coast Cluster, and a clear signal of momentum on our country’s journey to net zero emissions by 2050.”

Christophe Malaurie, Senior Vice President of Genesis, said “This award builds on over two years of support to the development of the East Coast Cluster and demonstrates our commitment and investment in the UK for a sustainable future. Genesis welcomes the opportunity to work with the East Coast Cluster and its stakeholders to produce a first of a kind project.”

Sam White, Costain’s MD for Natural Resources, said: “This project places Costain at the heart of Teesside, bringing investment to the region and helping create a world-leading industrial cluster on the east coast.”

 

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