Underwater rocks to be mapped for CO2 storage

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🗞️ Driving the news: Underwater gas fields about 35km off Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, are being evaluated for their potential to store millions of tonnes of CO2 through a process known as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
• The exploration, carried out by Spirit Energy, is part of a government-pending project aimed at mitigating industrial carbon emissions

🔭 The context: Spirit Energy has received a license to explore the feasibility of CCS in the North and South Morecambe gas fields in the East Irish Sea
• Using ultrasonic waves from a ship, the company will map the fields in April to estimate their CO2 storage capacity

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: CCS technology is crucial for reducing emissions from industries that are difficult to decarbonize, like cement production
• It captures CO2 produced from industrial processes and power stations before it reaches the atmosphere, offering a significant tool in the fight against global warming

⏭️ What's next: Assuming successful exploration and approval, Spirit Energy anticipates several years until final government approval and the construction of necessary infrastructure
• Thus, CO2 storage in the Morecambe gas fields could be operational in over five years

💬 One quote: "We do not have the technology to replace hydrocarbons in every aspect of our society in the next five years or even the next 20 years," said Dr. Tom Kettlety, an earth scientist at the University of Oxford, emphasizing the importance of CCS in the interim.

📈 One stat: The project aims to be part of the UK's strategy to capture and store 20-30 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030, highlighting its role in the national decarbonization efforts.

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