What is Net Zero?

Net Zero means that the amount of carbon dioxide we emit into the atmosphere is no greater than the amount of carbon dioxide we take away from the atmosphere.

The UK government has committed to a legally binding target of achieving Net Zero by 2050. To meet this target, we need to transition towards cleaner sources of energy, while decarbonising existing infrastructure. That is where carbon capture technology is set to play a crucial role.

What is carbon capture and storage?

Carbon capture and storage is the process of capturing carbon from industrial activity, transporting it, and then locking it into underground storage sites. In the UK, all prospective carbon storage sites are located offshore, with a large storage potential in the North Sea.

Carbon capture and storage is recognised by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (the IPCC) and the UK government as a vital step on the road to achieving Net Zero carbon emissions. The UK government has set out plans as part of the 6th Carbon Budget to capture and store between 20 and 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year by 2030.

What is the Viking CCS pipeline?

A number of companies have come together to develop the Viking CCS Cluster project. This project will put the Humber region at the forefront of the UK's drive to reduce carbon emissions and the Viking CCS pipeline will play a key part in this.

The Viking CCS pipeline is a 55km pipeline that will transport up to 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year from Immingham to the former Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal. From here, it will join an existing offshore pipeline to the Viking area in the UK southern North Sea, where the carbon dioxide will be injected into depleted gas reservoirs 2.7km beneath the seabed.

The project plans to store 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year by 2030.