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from little acorns

is sent to market. The resulting waste
CO₂ would then be transported back
offshore for underground storage. This
would go some way to decarbonising
our gas heating system. Projects such as
H21 Leeds Citygate and SGN’s H100 are
researching the technical and economic
feasibility of converting the gas grid to
100 per cent hydrogen.
2018 saw Acorn become the first ever
CCS project to receive funding under
the European Commission’s Connecting
Europe Facility. This funding was
matched by both the UK and Scottish
governments, along with Pale Blue Dot
Energy and Total E&P UK, representing
a significant milestone for CCS in
Europe. The year was topped off with
the award of the first ever lease option
for carbon dioxide storage from Crown
Estate Scotland, the first ever carbon
dioxide appraisal and storage licence by
the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) and UK
CCUS being represented at the United
Nations 24th Conference of Parties
in Poland. 2018 was a busy year, and
2019 is showing no signs of slowing
down. The feasibility work for Acorn
concluded in March 2019 with option
selection and front end engineering
design (FEED) now about to start.
expert panellists reiterated the same A new era for CCUS?
Acorn has been designed call. Allan Baker from Societe General The signs are good, but amidst all the
specifically to learn from the gave the view from the financial sector: inevitable political upheaval in the months
ahead, we need to see a real and serious
a lack of clear government policy is a
past and be robust for the real issue for financiers. Going forward indication from the UK government that
future – a low-cost option that the financial community will be needed it is committed to the timescales laid
makes best use of legacy oil to play a key role in developing a out in the CCUS Action Plan.
From industry, we need to widen
and gas infrastructure in order commercial CCUS industry and so this out the engagement around CCUS
is really a priority for the UK. Professor
to unlock the very large scale Jim Skea, Co-chair of Working Group and hydrogen developments and
CO₂ storage potential of the UK III of the Intergovernmental Panel on the opportunities they can bring to
Central North Sea and support Climate Change (IPCC) that led the industrial clusters across the UK,
positioning key industrial regions
1.5°C special report, reinforced the case
emitters in Scotland, elsewhere that to get to the UK’s Paris Agreement to really take advantage of the
in the UK and all around the targets we really need the policy decarbonisation opportunities that
North Sea basin framework for CCS now. infrastructure investment can bring.
Knowing that a clear policy By this time next year, we hope the
framework is key to offering confidence UK can be proud of the clear policy
Policy clarity in 2019 to industry, the UK government framework – one that will mobilise
For deployment of any CCUS projects launched its CCUS deployment pathway industry and private finance to kickstart a
in the UK, clear and supportive action plan (CCUS Action Plan) which world-leading UK CCUS sector right here,
government policy must emerge this formalised what the government will getting us on track to meeting our climate
year. This was a consistent theme do next year and beyond to ensure change targets and supporting other
throughout 2018, with the Committee they have the option to deploy CCUS nations to do the same.
on Climate Change (CCC) Progress at scale in the 2030s. 2019 looks set to
Report to the UK government in June be a very busy year as the government This article has evolved from an original
sending a strong message that the commences detailed engagement first published in the Carbon Capture
chopping and changing of strategy with industry and pulls together the Journal in its Jan/Feb issue 2019.
around CCUS had to end. This month, outcomes of several studies that will
the CCC is due to report to government shape thinking on these policies. Pale Blue Dot Energy helps
on how the UK might approach a net- If the government sticks to these organisations of all sizes create
zero carbon emissions target to help resolutions, by this time next year we opportunities and mitigate risks arising
limit warming to 1.5°C. should have a great deal more clarity from major changes in the energy
At the Accelerating CCUS conference, around how CCUS will move forward markets. For more information, visit
in Edinburgh, in November 2018, several in the UK. www.pale-blu.com

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