And, although CCUS has been used in the UK to some degree since 2015, capturing, using and/or storing carbon has fast become one of the hottest topics in discussions and plans surrounding energy consumption and, in particular, the UK’s road to Net Zero within the last year - the UK Government citing CCS as part of their energy security strategy.

This can be seen in the launch of the UK’s first ever round of carbon capture licensing this summer; reportedly seeing 26 bids from 19 companies itching to get new projects off the ground - licenses that will be rewarded next year, and coming at a time when oil and gas from the North Sea - of which makes up around 50% of the UK’s overall oil supply - is in question (for some, a recent subject of contention and controversy).

Currently, the UK Government reports that oil and gas makes up over 70% of the UK’s energy consumption, with the Climate Change Committee predicting that half of the UK’s energy by 2050 will still come from fossil fuels.

However, we know that North Sea gas & oil is finite and fossil fuels have long been an energy source we need to turn away from; although it’s believed that 15 billion barrels worth of oil could still be left in the North Sea, this would only equate to around 15 years’ worth of energy for the UK; providing us, therefore, with 15 years to find and invest [more] in alternative and renewable energy sources to suitably reduce and replace our reliance on fossil fuels.

Queue Carbon Capture Usage and Storage.

Although CCS and CCUS may not be the whole answer to the UK’s energy security and solving the current energy crisis, many big energy brands have very recently shown their public support for CCS, stating that CCS is crucial for the decarbonisation of industry; an important technology for the continued development of the UK’s energy security and of low-carbon, gas-fired power station. With those working on Harbour Energy’s Viking CCS project stating that they feel there are “no pathways” to Net Zero that do not involve CCS.

In fact, it's reported that there are 6 active carbon storage licences on the UK’s continental shelf which could store up to 40m tonnes by the mid-2030’s which is around ⅕ of approximate storage needs.

What’s more, the University of Cambridge just last week issued a report stating “Offshore carbon storage deployment and research needs to scale up for [the] UK to deliver net zero pledge” and the UK needs to “continue to invest in research, and the policy and regulatory frameworks that are required to scale up safely and at pace.”

Conversations are developing and intensity increasing rapidly around CCS and CCUS; ambitious projects and their founders stressing that CCS is the road to the UK’s energy security, and the government investing, but, as The University of Cambridge points out, there’s still much more work to be done in order to bring CCUS to the forefront in the way, and the volume, we need.

And, as we’ve stated previously, CCUS relies on the introduction of new technology or equipment that is often perceived as increasing the risks associated with projects - risks investors, understandably, are nervous to take.  

It’s clear that support for and action to advance CCUS has taken great strides since we first started talking about it early in the year, but there’s no denying that there is still a lot to be done and lessons to be learnt; research to be done and further investments to be made.

We look forward to seeing Carbon Capture Usage and Storage develop, and work its way into the mainstream over the next few years.