[London, 18 July 2024] – The Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) latest report on progress in reducing emissions has highlighted that only a third of emissions reductions are currently covered by credible plans, putting the 2030 target at risk.
The CCSA, the lead trade association accelerating the commercial deployment of Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage (CCUS) across the UK and Europe, has been working to ensure that emissions are reduced through utilising carbon capture and hydrogen to decarbonise British industry.
The CCC’s report outlines that rapid progress is needed in areas beyond electricity. It sets out ten priority recommendations, including reversing recent policy rollbacks, finalising business models for large-scale deployment of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) for power, and publishing a strategy to support skills development. These recommendations are important for the long-term success of the CCUS industry.
The report also highlights that rapid initial deployment and scale-up of CCUS technologies are critical, and delays in finalising business models for industrial carbon capture pose significant risks to achieving targets. The CCC emphasises the necessity of accelerated action in deploying CCUS to meet the ambitious goals outlined in the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan, which includes at least 5 MtCO2 of engineered removals by 2030.
The CCSA aligns with the CCC’s call for urgent action and emphasises the role of CCUS in achieving net zero goals. CCUS is a key low carbon solution. It is vital to enabling the production of clean power, low carbon products (including cement and chemicals), and low carbon hydrogen to decarbonise heating and transport, as well as greenhouse gas removal from the atmosphere through Direct Air Capture with Storage (DACS) or BECCS.
The CCSA remains committed to working with the Government and other stakeholders to accelerate the deployment of CCUS, ensuring the UK can meet its climate targets and secure a sustainable future.
Olivia Powis, UK Director of the Carbon Capture & Storage Association, said:
“The Climate Change Committee’s report is a stark reminder of the urgent action needed to stay on track for the UK’s 2030 emissions reduction target. In order to meet targets and ensure the UK’s leadership in the development of green technology, we must leverage all available solutions, including the essential role of CCUS.
“If we are to remain on track to reduce emissions in 2030 by 68% compared to 1990 levels, the Cluster Sequencing Programme must be progressed at pace and the Government must take Final Investment Decisions for Track-1 Clusters in September and urgently set out the next steps for Track-1 expansion and Track-2 clusters.”
“As the Committee has identified, the delays to the publication of business model updates for Power BECCS and GGRs now pose a significant risk. This, coupled with delays to the finalisation of business models for industrial Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) jeopardises the ability for CCUS to be deployed and scaled up at the pace required in the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan.”
“We stand at a critical juncture where the rollout of CCUS is crucial to meet Carbon Budget 6 and the Government’s mission of achieving clean power by 2030.”
Notes to Editors
CCUS, or Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage, is a key low carbon solution – vital to meeting the UK’s statutory Net Zero target at least cost. CCUS enables the production of clean power, clean products (such as steel and cement) and clean hydrogen – which can then be used to decarbonise heating and transport. In addition, CCUS also enables greenhouse gas removal from the atmosphere through Direct Air Capture with Storage (DACS) or Bioenergy with CCS (BECCS).
The CCSA is the trade association accelerating the commercial deployment of CCUS, with offices in the UK and Belgium. We work with members, governments and other organisations to ensure CCUS is developed and deployed at the pace and scale necessary to meet net zero goals and deliver sustainable growth across regions and nations.
The CCSA currently has over 100 member companies who are active in exploring and developing different applications of carbon capture and removals, CO2 transportation by pipeline and ship, utilisation, geological storage, and other permanent storage solutions, end-users such as power, industry, waste, fuels, and hydrogen production sectors, plus supply chain, engineering, construction and management, legal and financial consulting sectors.
For media enquiries please contact Joe Butler-Trewin on 07908 141 067/ joe.butler-trewin@ccsassociation.org
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