UK Government Approves £2 Billion Carbon Capture Projects, Creating 2,000 Jobs

The UK Government has approved significant funding and financial agreements supporting the HyNet hydrogen and carbon capture hub at the Stanlow refinery and the Liverpool Bay CCS project, unlocking approximately £5.5 billion in investment and creating thousands of jobs in the North West. Eni, as operator of the CO₂ transport and storage system, will oversee the construction of new and repurposed pipelines to transport captured carbon from industrial sources to offshore storage, with the project aiming to initially store 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, scalable to 10 million tonnes in the future. The investment is part of a broader government strategy to establish the UK as a leader in carbon capture and hydrogen, with HyNet and a similar initiative in the North East expected to remove a combined 8.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions per year. The majority of supply chain contracts for HyNet are being awarded to local businesses, ensuring regional economic benefits and supporting the North West Net Zero Industrial Cluster plan. Officials emphasize that these efforts will revitalize industrial communities, safeguard existing jobs, and create new opportunities as the UK pursues its clean energy and decarbonization goals. Construction is set to begin immediately, with operations targeted to commence in 2028.