Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Carbon Capture and Storage

20 October 2021 · 12 other contributors · 9,569 words

Opened by Anthony Browne Con South Cambridgeshire

Responding minister: Greg Hands

ClimateEnvironment

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Anthony Browne raised concerns about carbon capture and storage in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been viewed as a controversial technology by some environmental groups.
  • CCS can significantly reduce costs by 70% for achieving net zero compared to not using the technology.
  • The Minister commended the debate and acknowledged the progress in decarbonising the UK's electricity sector.

Key requests to Government

I ask the Government to keep calm and carry on with their commitment to CCS; support it in next week's spending review; produce a long-term financial structure for the industry to give companies investment certainty; set out a long-term vision for the development of CCS so that it becomes a fully competitive, financially sustainable sector; ensure independent monitoring of the CCS clusters that go ahead; and urge environmental groups not to campaign against CCS itself.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Anthony Browne Con South Cambridgeshire

Two decades ago, when I was environment editor of The Times, a report came across my desk about carbon capture and storage (CCS), which has since been seen as a controversial technology by some environmental groups. However, the truth is that CCS mirrors nature's process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide over billions of years. Atmospheric CO2 levels have risen dramatically due to human activity, reaching 420 parts per million. Industrial CCS can significantly decarbonise industries such as steel, cement, glass and chemicals; it also cuts the cost of achieving net zero by 70% compared to not using CCS. Although some in the environment movement are wary of industrial CCS, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the UK's Climate Change Committee both see carbon capture and storage as essential for reaching net zero.

Other contributors (12)
  • Alan Brown SNP Cowdenbeath

    Alan Brown criticised the UK Government for not progressing the Scottish carbon capture cluster, arguing it should be prioritised alongside other clusters. He highlighted that Scotland's cluster could help decarbonise other parts of the UK and was ideally placed to produce blue hydrogen and facilitate a just transition. The Scottish cluster is set to capture 25 megatonnes of CO2 by 2030, tackle major emitters like Ineos at Grangemouth, unlock significant carbon storage capacity, and create over 20,000 jobs.

  • Alan Whitehead Lab Southampton Test

    He congratulated the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire on securing the debate and highlighted the importance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in achieving net-zero targets by addressing the need to put carbon back into the ground, emphasizing its role beyond power sectors and stressing that CCS is not an experimental technique but a proven method.

  • Alex Cunningham Lab Stockton North

    I am delighted about the east coast cluster's potential to decarbonise industry, as it could remove almost 50% of carbon emissions in the UK. However, I warn against past funding cuts and urge the Government not to let down industries such as CF Fertilisers, which are struggling with high energy and gas transportation costs. He interjected, disagreeing with an unspecified point made previously.

  • Angela Eagle Lab Sefton Central

    I am a strong supporter of CCUS in Merseyside, particularly through the HyNet North West project. However, I also urge the Government to support other low-carbon technologies and not just focus on one solution.

  • David Duguid

    He thanked the Minister for meeting later to discuss the Acorn Project evaluation criteria, reiterating the Prime Minister's commitment to deploy CCUS in industrial clusters by the mid-2020s and confirmed that the Scottish cluster is a reserve cluster with eligibility.

  • Philippa Whitford SNP Central Scotland

    CCS should be part of a wider approach to achieving net zero, but it must not distract from the need for energy efficiency. I support research and development in CCUS technologies.

  • Jill Mortimer

    Welcomed the news of the east coast cluster in Teesside which will create over 25,000 jobs by 2050 and bring £2 billion investment. She emphasised the importance of carbon capture and storage for achieving net zero emissions and producing hydrogen as a future fuel source.

  • Kirsty Blackman SNP Aberdeen North

    Expressed disappointment over the Scottish cluster being relegated to a reserve status, questioning why only two clusters were chosen for progression despite meeting all criteria. She highlighted that the Scottish Acorn project could support 15,000 jobs annually and meet significant carbon capture targets.

  • Miriam Cates Con Penistone and Stocksbridge

    Welcomed the announcements in the net zero strategy for carbon capture and storage, particularly the east coast cluster being a track 1 cluster. Emphasised the importance of projects like Zero Carbon Humber to absorb emissions from industries like steel and to create new jobs. Highlighted the potential of James Durrans & Sons in producing synthetic graphite for electric car batteries, stressing the need for carbon capture to support such innovations.

  • Peter Aldous Con Waveney

    I am concerned about some aspects of CCUS, such as ensuring CO2 is stored permanently underground. I also support the Government's commitment to achieving net zero and welcome their new greenhouse gas removal targets.

  • Peter Gibson Con Darlington

    I praised the east coast cluster's selection by Ministers for developing carbon capture facilities and welcomed the £1 billion investment in Teesworks to transport CO2 from industrial plants to offshore storage. The project will remove 50% of UK's industrial cluster emissions, support 25,000 skilled jobs, and champion local industry.

  • Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath

    The hon. Member emphasised the importance of moving away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy, questioning why investment should be directed at carbon capture projects that sustain the fossil fuel industry rather than supporting alternatives such as tidal energy and synthetic fuel production for aviation. She highlighted the potential of direct air capture technology to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and produce a gas that could replace fossil fuels in various applications. Asked the hon. Gentleman to give way.

Government Response

Greg Hands

Let me start by congratulating my hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire on securing this important debate, and I thank all Members who have spoken. We have already made huge progress in decarbonising the electricity sector; greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation were down 13% in 2019 compared to 2018 levels and are 72% lower than 1990 levels. The Prime Minister confirmed a plan to decarbonise the UK's electricity system entirely by 2035, marking significant progress towards net zero ambitions. Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) is essential for reaching these goals, with its role extending beyond electricity to industries like steel, cement, chemicals, and others lacking viable alternatives. The Government's industrial decarbonisation strategy aims to establish CCUS in at least two industrial sites by the mid-2020s and another two by 2030, providing long-term certainty for private sector investment through a new revenue mechanism called the Industrial Decarbonisation and Hydrogen Revenue Support Scheme. This scheme will initially commit £100 million of contracts in 2023 and will enable awarding first contracts to CCUS-enabled hydrogen projects in 2022. The Government have identified HyNet and the east coast cluster as track 1 clusters for the mid-2020s, with the Scottish Acorn cluster remaining a reserve cluster subject to engagement. The Minister emphasised that being a reserve cluster does not prejudice its position in track 2.

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