This pivotal development, confirmed at the recent “Summit on the Future of Energy Security” in London, marks the start of construction for one of the world’s most advanced CCS initiatives – the HyNet Cluster.
This announcement represents more than a milestone in infrastructure development; it signals a shift in the broader energy landscape. Carbon management technologies, such as CCS, are being closely watched for their potential to accelerate the push toward net zero.
A bridge to future energy ambition
The Liverpool Bay CCS project, operated by Eni, will serve as the backbone of the HyNet industrial cluster, capturing carbon emissions from across the North West of England and North Wales. The system is designed to store up to 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually in its first phase, with plans to scale up to 10 million tonnes per year by the 2030s. Carbon will be transported via a mix of new and repurposed pipelines to be permanently stored in depleted gas reservoirs under Liverpool Bay.
The project is set to generate around 2,000 construction-phase jobs and drive long-term industrial revitalisation. Project progress will not only help reduce industrial emissions but also reinforces the role of CCS as a bridge between today’s energy reality and tomorrow’s net zero ambition.
Government signals confidence
With a government investment framework of £21.7 billion over 25 years for the UK’s first two CCS clusters, the signal is clear: CCS is no longer a peripheral technology – it is a core component of national energy and industrial strategy. Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband highlighted the role of CCS in creating “a whole new clean energy industry,” positioning the UK as a “clean energy superpower.”
“Today we keep our promise to launch a whole new clean energy industry for our country – carbon capture and storage – to deliver thousands of highly skilled jobs and revitalise our industrial communities,” Ed Miliband commented. “This investment from our partnership with Eni is government working together with industry to kickstart growth and back engineers, welders and electricians through our mission to become a clean energy superpower.
“We are making the UK energy secure so we can protect families and businesses and drive jobs through our Plan for Change.”
Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi reinforced this vision, noting that CCS can be “fully competitive in the market” and emphasising its role in eliminating emissions from sectors lacking viable alternatives.
Construction of the Liverpool Bay CCS system begins this year, with the first phase expected to go live in 2028.
Image from ENI