Eni has recently just been awarded the Carbon dioxide (CO2) appraisal and storage license by the Oil and Gas Authority in the UK.
This license permits Eni to reuse and repurpose depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs and infrastructure to store CO2 captured in the Northern region of England and Wales.
The first license of its kind for Eni, the CS appraisal represents a milestone for energy transitions and decarbonization strategies as well as a commitment to reach the Zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The license includes a 6-year appraisal term that allows assessments and planning that may lead to a subsequent application to the OGA for a storage permit and associated approvals required before any storage operations can begin.
In combined efforts with industrial companies, Eni aims to capture and transport CO2 from existing industries and future hydrogen production sites for fuel switching, heating, power and transportation.
It is expected that the project will benefit local communities by creating new job opportunities and assist to develop the economy of the area whilst providing a tangible pathway to energy transition and decarbonisation.
The Chief Executive of the OGA, Dr. Andy Samuel, said: “The OGA is very pleased to award this licence for what we hope will be a highly successful project.
“The Energy Integration work we’ve been leading shows that the combination of various energy systems, including carbon capture and hydrogen, can make a significant contribution to the UK’s net zero 2050 target. “he further added.
HyNet is an exciting example of energy integration in action – re-using existing infrastructure and depleted reservoirs for significant carbon storage, coupled with hydrogen generation for a variety of innovative uses.”
The Chief Executive of Eni, Claudio Descalzi, addressed the importance of the license project to the 2050 Net Zero target for the UK.
The Oil and Gas Authority is the licensing authority governing offshore carbon dioxide storage development, approval and permits.
