The UK Incorporates Carbon Capture into the Core Layout of Reindustrialization

On October 13, Martin McCluskey, the UK Minister for Local Energy and Jobs, delivered a speech at the Carbon Capture and Storage Association annual conference, positioning carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) as key economic infrastructure to drive UK reindustrialization. The UK government plans to support emission reductions in industries such as cement, chemicals, refining, waste-to-energy, and low-carbon power by building carbon capture, transport, and storage networks, prevent high-emission industries from relocating overseas, and drive job creation, supply chain growth, and investment in traditional industrial regions.

First, promoting the large-scale application of CCUS through industrial clusters. The UK government has already pushed five projects to final investment decisions. The Northern Endurance Partnership and Net Zero Teesside Power project in the East Coast Cluster are expected to support about 3,000 jobs during the construction period; the Liverpool Bay carbon capture and storage project in the HyNet cluster has already supported more than 1,400 jobs; Padeswood will build the UK's first cement plant equipped with carbon capture facilities, and Protos will build the first carbon capture waste-to-energy facility, with the two projects together supporting more than 600 jobs. At present, the relevant projects support a total of about 5,500 jobs.

Second, strengthening the domestic supply chain and local employment spillovers. The East Coast Cluster has awarded more than GBP 2 billion in contracts to more than 260 UK suppliers and invested more than GBP 1 million in local skills training, covering 175 young people. The government will also support the development of the Viking and Acorn clusters, promoting the transfer of North Sea oil and gas engineering capabilities, offshore infrastructure, and technical talent to the carbon transport and storage industry.

Third, adjusting the support mechanism for the next stage. Under fiscal constraints, the UK will determine construction priorities, implementation sequence, and pace of advancement based on project value, maturity, and infrastructure conditions, while simplifying procedures for enterprises to connect to the carbon transport and storage network, allowing non-pipeline transport and cross-border carbon dioxide transfer, and attracting industry and private capital to play a greater role. As projects shift from first-of-a-kind demonstration to large-scale deployment, the government will gradually reduce the industry's reliance on public subsidies.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/wN7ek8hqz87SVrbbDpj1zw