GE Vernova: Carbon Capture Vital for UK Net Zero
The importance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) cannot be overstated.
Without this technology, experts warn that reaching climate goals and preventing severe global warming will be exceptionally challenging, if not impossible.
In June 2024, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on scientists, engineers and governments to prioritise carbon dioxide removal and storage to clean up "final emissions from the heavy industries hardest to clean."
The UK government has made a substantial commitment to the technology.
Nearly £22bn (US$28.5bn) has been pledged for carbon capture projects across the country including the Net Zero Teesside project.
The Net Zero Teesside project is a £4bn (US$5.2bn) venture with collaborative effort from industry leaders including GE Vernova, bp and Technip.
Roger Martella, Group VP and Chief Sustainability Officer at GE Vernova, says: “Carbon capture is a critical breakthrough technology.
“We’ve been selected to provide the turbines for the Teesside Project, which will be the leading carbon capture demonstration project in the world as it moves forward.
“Our turbines probably move air faster than any equipment in the world, so this isn’t any old carbon capture technology.
“We have to build the most complex and industrialised carbon capture technology.”
The role of CCS in UK energy
The Climate Change Committee (CCC) sets legally binding five year ‘carbon budgets’ in the UK at least 12 years in advance.
These act as steps to net zero and currently aim to limit UK emissions to around 78% of 1990 levels by 2037.
Its budget calls for gas power with CCS to generate 6% of electricity in the UK by 2035.
The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s analysis also recognises this, forecasting a need for up to 10 GW.
GE Vernova’s Reaching Net Zero Carbon in Great Britain study found emissions reductions can be achieved at lower costs through combining gas power with CCS and renewables.
Scott Strazik, CEO at GE Vernova, says: “We believe carbon capture has an important role as one of the crucial methods to decarbonize power generation globally as we drive the energy transition and help governments and customers meet net zero targets in the coming years.”
Advantages of gas power with CCS for the UK
A whitepaper from GE Vernova highlights four opportunities that CCS can bring to the UK:
- Lower system cost: Combining renewables and abated gas turbines can achieve emissions reductions at a lower cost, making decarbonisation more affordable.
- Job creation and transition: The CCS industry is expected to create new jobs and provide opportunities for upskilling UK workers. The UK Government expects 50,000 CCS-related jobs by 2030.
- Economic growth: CCS development can cause growth in industries related to the expansion of its infrastructure such as engineering, construction and manufacturing.
- Supply chain and storage opportunities: According to GE Vernova, the UK is positioned to become a leader in providing carbon storage services to countries with less fortunate geologies or policies.
******
Make sure you check out the latest edition of Sustainability Magazine and also sign up to our global conference series - Sustainability LIVE 2024
******
Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand
******