- NSTA kicks off carbon storage licensing round.
- The UK plans 20-30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030.
The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has announced the launch of the UK’s first-ever carbon storage licensing round, with 13 sites of potential available. According to the authority, the new carbon areas, coupled with the six previously issued licences, could have the capacity to make a significant contribution toward the UK’s target of storing 20-30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 2030.
The locations being offered licensing are off the coast of Aberdeen, Teesside, Liverpool and Lincolnshire in the Southern North Sea, Central North Sea, Northern North Sea, and East Irish Sea and are made up of a mixture of saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas field storage opportunities.
This round is envisaged to be the first of many as it is estimated that as many as 100 CO2 stores could be required to meet the net-zero by 2050 target.