A huge power station with in-built carbon capture technology has secured planning permission - the first of its kind in the UK to do so.
SSE Thermal and Equinor's Keadby Three plant in North Lincolnshire - an integral part of the Zero Carbon Humber proposal - has received its development consent order in what has been described as a landmark decision. Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps has signed it off, following a recommendation from the Planning Inspectorate.
It comes with the 910MW proposal - set to capture 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 a year in the generating process - currently in the due diligence stage of the Government's Cluster Sequencing Process.
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It could provide financial backing to aid the deployment of cutting-edge technology to connect with the dual pipeline plans for hydrogen and emission storage. While fed on natural gas, there are plans from the partners to add a further plant to operate on the lower carbon fuel.
Catherine Raw, managing director of SSE Thermal, said: "Together with Equinor, SSE Thermal is committed to delivering low-carbon flexible power. We are doing everything we can to ensure that Keadby Three Carbon Capture Power Station is in the best position possible when the UK Government confirms the next steps around its plans to decarbonise industrial clusters.
"To become the first power CCS project in the UK to receive planning consent is testament to the strength of Keadby Three, which is capable of playing a major role in achieving a net zero electricity system while providing vital flexible backup to renewables. This crucial project can underpin investment in shared CCS infrastructure and unlock wider decarbonisation and investment opportunities for the Humber, and we look forward to continued progress."
As a standalone project the figure represents five per cent of the government's 2030 CCS target.
Keadby Three could be operational as early as 2027, assuming success in the sequencing process, leading to a final investment decision.
Grete Tveit, senior vice president for low carbon solutions at Equinor, said: "This news is a significant milestone for our joint ambition to deliver clean, flexible and efficient power to support intermittent renewable generation and maintain security of supply. Together with SSE Thermal, we are delighted to be in a position to continue developing the proposed Keadby Three Carbon Capture Power Station.
"This project will not only support the decarbonisation efforts in the UK but will also have a positive impact on the local economy and supply chain, protecting existing jobs and creating new ones."
Earlier this year, SSE Thermal and Equinor, with the latter behind H2H Saltend and further proposals, awarded a front end engineering design contract to a consortium comprising Aker Solutions, Siemens Energy and Altrad Babcock, with Aker Carbon Capture supporting on the CCS technology.
The energy majors are also collaborating on Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station in Scotland, Keadby In addition, they are developing Aldbrough Hydrogen Storage, which could provide vital storage to balance intermittent supply and demand, while also having acquired Triton Power, with a significant generator at Saltend.
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