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Norwegian oil giant’s plan to capture UK’s carbon is fraught with risks

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on DeSmog or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Equinor, a Norwegian oil giant, has ambitious plans for carbon capture projects in the UK, backed by recent multi-billion-pound pledges from the new Labour government
The projects, including the £1.5 billion Net Zero Teesside Power plant, face scrutiny for their high technical and environmental risks, with critics doubting their net climate benefits

🔭 The context: Despite significant funding, carbon capture on a gas-fired power scale is largely untested and faces technological hurdles, exacerbated by high methane emissions from imported liquefied natural gas (LNG)
Equinor’s past attempts with CCS technology have encountered setbacks, while UK gas imports – increasingly reliant on LNG – contribute to a larger carbon footprint

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Critics argue that these projects perpetuate fossil fuel dependence rather than advancing genuine decarbonization, potentially locking the UK into gas infrastructure and limiting investments in renewable solutions
The environmental risk of methane leakage further undermines claims of a net zero pathway

⏭️ What's next: Equinor’s plans, alongside lobbying efforts for greater subsidies, have sparked debate over the future role of CCS and fossil fuels in the UK’s climate strategy
Legal challenges and ongoing policy reviews will likely shape the sector's trajectory in the coming years

💬 One quote: “This is not a decarbonisation project, it’s a ‘recarbonisation project’,” cautioned environmental consultant Andrew Boswell

📈 One stat: Equinor’s Teesside plant is estimated to capture up to 2 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, only 0.5% of the UK’s annual emissions

Click for more news covering the latest on carbon capture & storage

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