SPIRIT Energy has confirmed plans to repurpose gas fields for emissions storage.
The operator intends to convert its South Morecambe and North Morecambe fields off north-west England, as well as the Barrow terminals, into a world-class carbon-capture and storage cluster.
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The project is subject to securing a licence from the North Sea Transition Authority, as well as other regulatory approvals.
The initiative is expected to support thousands of highly-skilled green jobs in Cumbria and the north-west, as well as positions in Spirit’s Aberdeen office.
The project is backed by Spirit’s shareholders – British Gas-owner Centrica and German utilities firm Stadtwerke Munchen.
Neil McCulloch, chief executive of Spirit, said: “Our project will introduce cost-effective decarbonisation to businesses all over the UK, with a multi-billion-pound facility which means that a connection to a CO2 export pipeline is no longer necessary to access carbon storage.
“Our new cluster will provide a solution for the UK’s industrial heartlands to reduce their carbon emissions, while also injecting significant green investment into Cumbria and the north-west of England.”
As well as locking away emissions from local heavy industry, the project will also be able to accept carbon transported by ship from elsewhere, thanks to the nearby Port of Barrow.
This provides a route for industrial sites which do not have a direct connection to a pipelin, to access CCS technology.
Chris O’Shea, chairman of Spirit and CEO of Centrica, added: “This new cluster is a world-leading project that will promote growth, create jobs, and support the UK’s net-zero ambitions.
“At Centrica, we are focused on exploring how our assets can become an integral part of the energy transition to help our customers and the business achieve net zero.
“We’re pleased that this innovative project sets us up for long-term success to do just that.”
Spirit has around 50 years of knowledge from operating the South Morecambe and North Morecambe fields.
On top of its CCS plans, the company has pledged to continue to maximise the use of the two deposits until they are fully depleted, in order to ensure continuity of domestic energy supply.
With the North and South Morecambe gas fields coming to the end of their productive life, Spirit says the CCS project will harness the skills and knowledge of more than 300 workers currently based at the site.
