First carbon storage project to repurpose existing infrastructure in UK enters into lease

The first carbon storage project in the UK with plans to repurpose existing infrastructure has entered into a lease agreement with The Crown Estate. The Liverpool Bay Carbon Capture and Storage (LBCCS) project will provide the transport and storage infrastructure for the HyNet industrial decarbonisation cluster. To do this, it will use more than 120km of repurposed infrastructure including pipelines, offshore structures and an onshore treatment plant. It will also see the construction of nearly 34km of new pipeline. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) will initially be captured from the cement, low-carbon hydrogen and energy-from-waste sectors before being permanently stored in depleted offshore gas reservoirs beneath Liverpool Bay. The project has now entered into a lease with The Crown Estate for its CO₂ transportation and storage project. Phase 1 is expected to store 109Mt of CO₂ over its operational life, with an initial storage capacity of 4.5Mt per annum and the potential to expand to 10Mt per annum after 2030. The project is expected to support around 2,000 jobs during construction and unlock approximately £2bn of supply chain investment. The recently announced lease enables LBCCS, part of Eni CCUS Holding group, to access the seabed and utilise former infrastructure to transport and safely store offshore CO₂ from industries within the HyNet network. HyNet North West was selected in October 2021 as a UK Government Track-1 Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) cluster. The Liverpool Bay CCS project was awarded an Agreement for Lease by The Crown Estate in August 2024 and reached financial close eight months later in April last year. The first injection is expected in 2028 in line with the delivery timetable of industrial emitters within the HyNet Cluster. MD for LBCCS managing director Stefano Rovelli said: “This lease with The Crown Estate is another important step for the Liverpool Bay transport and storage infrastructure which will serve the wider HyNet cluster. “Repurposing our existing infrastructure helps to speed up the process by which we can tackle CO₂ emissions from industry in the North West of England and North Wales, supporting economic growth in the region as part of the UK’s journey to Net Zero.” The Crown Estate CCS and hydrogen director Denise Moylan said: “This lease marks an important milestone for the Liverpool Bay CCS project and the development of carbon storage infrastructure in UK waters. “While enabling the responsible use of the seabed and the repurposing of existing offshore infrastructure, the project can help hard-to-abate industries reduce emissions while supporting jobs, investment and industrial competitiveness in North-West England and North Wales.” Carbon Capture and Storage Association CEO Olivia Powis said: “The Liverpool Bay CCS lease with The Crown Estate is yet another exciting step forward for UK CCUS deployment. “Liverpool Bay shows how repurposing existing infrastructure for CCUS can accelerate the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries such as cement and energy-from-waste, while delivering skilled jobs. Sustaining momentum on deployment is now critical to delivering the UK’s industrial ambitions at scale.” Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here. Have your say or a new account to join the discussion.