Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Carbon Capture and Storage

Tuesday 23 May 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • North Sea oil and gas infrastructure can be repurposed for carbon capture and storage to lower costs and speed up deployment.
  • The UK Government has invested 20 billion in carbon capture, usage, and storage, with potential to store 78 billion tonnes of carbon under the North Sea.
  • The UK Government has spent 40 million on the Acorn project and plans further developments for CCUS later in the year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Climate Energy
Context

The question arises from the exploration of reusing existing North Sea oil and gas infrastructure for carbon capture and storage.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the potential role of North sea oil and gas infrastructure in developing carbon capture and underground storage capacity?

Answer from Grant Shapps

North Sea oil and gas infrastructure can play a crucial role in lowering costs and speeding up deployment if it is repurposed for carbon capture and storage, therefore improving our energy security.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer lacks specific details on any recent assessment or study related to the question asked.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Climate Energy
Context

The question stems from a successful carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) project in Denmark, highlighting the fragility of the UK's supply chain. The operator EnQuest in Shetland is eager to develop similar projects.

Question

Would he or the Energy Minister agree to meet me and the operators of EnQuest to hear what it needs to get that exciting project across the line for a final investment decision?

Answer from Grant Shapps

The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right about this, but the UK is playing a leading role with its recent £20 billion investment in carbon capture, usage and storage. We have sufficient space to store potentially 78 billion tonnes of carbon under the North sea—equivalent, I am told, to the space occupied by over 15.5 billion well-fed elephants. I would be more than happy to meet him to discuss the potential of the field he mentioned.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 David Duguid Con
Energy Environment
Context

The question addresses the progress of providing access to CO2 storage sites in the North Sea for industrial clusters that lack direct pipeline connections. It also mentions the investment and promise made by different political parties regarding a specific project.

Question

What progress has been made to provide access to CO2 storage sites such as those in the North sea for industrial clusters without direct access to those sites by pipeline—for example, through shipping? What advantage can be taken of existing infrastructure at ports located near storage sites, such as Peterhead in my constituency?

Answer from Grant Shapps

My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the £40 million that the UK Government have already spent on the Acorn project. We have track 1 expansion later this year and track 2 will be announced later this year for CCUS. We look forward to further developments. He is also right to highlight the importance of the storage and transportation of carbon; in fact, it is a subject being considered today in the Committee on the Energy Bill.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not provide specific progress details regarding CO2 storage site access for industrial clusters without direct pipeline connections.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email