The UK government has added the Acorn and Viking carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects to its 'Track 2' process, which aims to start up two further CCS clusters by 2030.
The government will "commence engagement, assessment of delivery plans and due diligence" with the developers, it said today. Acorn and Viking represent the transport and offshore CO2 storage elements of their respective CCS clusters. The government plans to set out how capture projects, which will link to these, will be eligible for Track 2 "in due course", it said today.
Viking, in northeast England, could transport and store up to 10mn t/yr of CO2 by 2030 and 15mn t/yr of CO2 by 2035, with storage capacity of 300mn t/CO2 across the depleted Viking gas field. Acorn, in northeast Scotland, could store "at least" 5mn t/yr of CO2 by 2030, the partnership said.
Acorn is a joint venture comprising UK decarbonisation firm Storegga, Shell, UK upstream firm Harbour Energy and energy infrastructure business North Sea Midstream Partners. Harbour operates the Viking project, in which BP acquired a 40pc stake in April.
The Track 2 decision will enable both developments to "move into front end engineering and design and discussions with the government over the terms of the economic licences, ahead of final investment decisions", Harbour said today.
The government called for applications under its Track 2 scheme on 30 March, although it noted at the time that the Acorn and Viking projects are "best placed to deliver on the government's objectives". The UK aims to capture and store 20mn-30mn t/yr of CO2 by 2030 and the government has committed £20bn ($25.7bn) of funding for carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) over 20 years.
The Track 1 clusters — HyNet and East Coast — have target start dates of the mid-2020s. Acorn will remain on the reserve list for Track 1, should HyNet or the East Coast clusters encounter "significant delivery challenges", the government said.
The government will "publish a vision" for the UK's CCUS sector later this year, it said today.
"Engagement with industry about future plans will continue", it added.
