US consulting engineering firm Jacobs has been appointed by the government to deliver the UK’s first carbon capture sites.
This comes after the government announced today a pledge of £21.7 billion in funding for carbon capture, over 25 years.
The Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) program captures and stores carbon emissions from industrial processes and power stations, to prevent CO2 being released into the atmosphere and support the UK’s commitment to net-zero.
CCUS stores the CO2 emissions beneath the seabed, using technology that has been deployed across the globe for over 20 years, with the aim to remove more than 8.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
In turn, this helps generate low-carbon energy and enable low-carbon hydrogen production at scale.
Jacobs will deliver technical project management, strategic and change management advisory services, data solutions and risk and quality management.
The US firm will also deliver strategic support to the Hydrogen and Industrial Carbon Capture program and provide advisory consultancy, end-to-end innovation, design and analytics with strategic partner PA Consulting (PA).
The contract with Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) is for an initial term of two years with an option to extend by up to two additional one-year periods.
Jacobs Senior Vice President Kate Kenny said: “CCUS is an important enabler to the diverse mix of cross-market decarbonization and energy transition solutions needed to meet net-zero ambitions and enhance the UK’s energy security for the future.
“We bring technical and strategic program management experience across CCUS projects, critical infrastructure and whole energy systems as the CCUS program drives continued development and scaling in deployment.”
Funding for the sites aims to boost growth in the North West and North East of England through the creation of 4,000 jobs and supporting 50,000 jobs long-term.
The government expects the two proposed sites, in Teesside and Merseyside, to bring in £8 billion of private investment into these communities.
Moreover, they claim that an up and running carbon capture industry is expected to add around £5 billion per year to the UK economy by 2050.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband are visiting the North West today to confirm funding for the projects.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, said: “This game-changing technology will bring 4,000 good jobs and billions of private investment into communities across Merseyside and Teesside, igniting growth in these industrial heartlands and powering up the rest of the country.
“Working in partnership with business is at the heart of our plan to deliver strong growth and investment, so we can rebuild Britain and make everyone better off.“
It is the government’s hope that the UK is on course to become a global leader in CCUS and hydrogen.
Miliband first announced plans to develop carbon capture projects in 2009, and last year the Conservative government announced £20 billion plans for carbon capture, but Labour said it had never committed any cash, according to the BBC.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: “By securing this funding, we pave the way for securing the clean energy revolution that will rebuild Britain’s industrial heartlands.
“This funding is a testament to the power of an active government working in partnership with businesses to deliver good jobs for our communities.”
Last month, The Guardian reported that climate scientists had called on Labour to pause on plans for carbon capture “until all the relevant evidence concerning the whole-life emissions and safety of these technologies has been properly evaluated.”
However, the International Energy Agency and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have endorsed CCUS as a critical tool in decarbonisation, particularly in heavy industry such as cement and steel.
Meanwhile, the Climate Change Committee deemed CCUS a “necessity not
an option,” in a report published in 2019.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “We’re reigniting our industrial heartlands by investing in the industry of the future.
“For the past 14 years, business has been second-guessing a dysfunctional government – which has set us back and caused an economic slump.
“Today’s announcement will give industry the certainty it needs – committing to 25 years of funding in this groundbreaking technology – to help deliver jobs, kickstart growth, and repair this country once and for all.”
Was this interesting? Financial roundup – The ‘biggest earners’ in UK construction
If you have a tip or story idea that fts with our publication, please contact the news reporter miles@wavenews.co.uk
Get industry news in 5 minutes!
A daily email that makes industry news enjoyable. It’s completely free.
