The UK Government has announced a substantial £22 billion investment in carbon capture and storage projects, aimed at cutting emissions while driving economic growth. This major funding boost is set to support two significant “carbon capture clusters” in Merseyside and Teesside over the next 25 years, creating thousands of jobs and attracting private investment, all while helping the UK meet its climate targets. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, alongside Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, highlighted the initiative as a means of “reigniting our industrial heartlands by investing in the industry of the future.” Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technology traps emissions produced by energy generation and industrial processes, such as cement manufacturing, and stores them underground in geological formations like disused oil fields beneath the sea. Experts, including the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Climate Change Committee, consider CCUS vital to achieving the greenhouse gas reductions needed to combat climate change. The Government’s £22 billion commitment will fund carbon capture initiatives in Teesside and Merseyside, focusing on projects that capture emissions from hydrogen production, gas power plants, and energy-from-waste facilities. This investment is set to generate around 4,000 direct jobs and support up to 50,000 jobs long-term. Additionally, it will help the UK remove 8.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, with the first carbon being stored as early as 2028. These projects are expected to serve as a catalyst for the UK’s first large-scale hydrogen production plant, while also helping the oil and gas industry transition to greener energy sources. The move has been widely welcomed, with David Grier of Verdant Regeneration stating, “This funding provides industry with the confidence to invest in groundbreaking technology that will create jobs, spur growth, and help meet the UK’s climate ambitions.” The initiative is predicted to attract £8 billion in private sector investment. CCUS technology is also key to the development of “blue” hydrogen, which is produced from natural gas with carbon emissions captured and stored. However, environmentalists, including Greenpeace, have raised concerns that blue hydrogen still relies on fossil fuels, potentially locking the UK into what they call “second-rate solutions.” Prime Minister Starmer defended the plan, stating: “For the past 14 years, business has been held back by a dysfunctional government. Today’s announcement provides the certainty needed to deliver jobs, drive growth, and set the UK on a path to a cleaner, greener future.” Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who first announced plans for carbon capture projects back in 2009, said, “This investment paves the way for a clean energy revolution that will revitalise Britain’s industrial heartlands.” Businesses involved in the carbon capture clusters, including those focused on hydrogen and industrial production, have welcomed the Government’s commitment. Emma Pinchbeck, Chief Executive of Energy UK, described CCUS as “a vital tool in our arsenal to decarbonise industries that cannot yet rely on clean electricity, unlocking significant investment in the process.” However, Greenpeace UK’s policy director, Doug Parr, warned that the £22 billion investment risks extending the lifespan of the oil and gas industry. He called for a greater focus on truly green jobs in sectors like offshore wind or nationwide home insulation programmes to reduce energy bills. The Government’s investment in carbon capture is seen by many as a bold step forward for UK industry and climate action, but its success will depend on balancing economic growth with genuine long-term sustainability. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

First of 200+ containers installed at strategically significant site of former coal-fired power station Global energy storage company Pacific Green has hit a number of key milestones in the delivery of its 249MW / 373.3MWh Sheaf Energy Park in Kent, England. The large-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), currently under construction on behalf of asset owner Sosteneo, is located on brownfield land at the site of the former Richborough coal-fired power station.  In conjunction with Pacific Green and Sosteneo’s now operational 100MW / 100MWh Richborough Energy Park, Sheaf will form part of a strategically significant UK clean energy storage and transmission hub which hosts vital connections for the Nemo Link interconnector with Belgium and Thanet Offshore Wind Farm.  Site preparation and groundworks were recently completed on schedule. This work has paved the way for the successful arrival of the first of 200+ equipment containers. Following completion of Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), Sheaf has now taken delivery of 68 containers and installed the first of 34 housing the project’s Power Conversion Systems (PCS) – a crucial component for dynamic coupling of the BESS with the grid. These PCS containers will be followed by 135 liquid cooled, LFP chemistry battery containers, to be shipped from supplier and installed in a just-in-time approach prior to energization with the electrical grid. Activity at the site is being conducted in line with robust safety and risk management protocols. Community engagement and biodiversity are also being prioritized, with key milestones including the appointment of a stakeholder engagement representative and biodiversity actions including removal of contaminated landfill left by the power station, rewilding of 10,000m2 of land, and ultimately achieving biodiversity net gain of no less than 14.91%. Christo Hammes, Pacific Green’s Chief Operating Officer, said:  “Located at a former industrial site and with an excellent grid connection, Sheaf Energy Park will be a strategic asset for the UK’s energy grid – and in many ways is a true symbol of the energy transition. Coupled with Richborough Energy Park, this project embodies Pacific Green’s commitment to UK energy storage and is laying the foundation for future growth.” “We are pleased with progress to date, having hit a number of our key development milestones, and we are committed to maintaining dialogue with our stakeholders and the community as we bring the project through to commissioning next year.” Pacific Green was retained to oversee the construction, operations and maintenance of Sheaf Energy Park following its sale to Sosteneo Fund 1 Holdco S.à.r.l. in December 2023. SSE Energy Supply Limited (SSE) will be responsible for providing optimization services for a 10-year period from the start of commercial operations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Leading independent energy developer Balance Power today announces planning approval for its 99MW/99MWh battery storage project located in Iron Acton, South Gloucestershire. This project will play a critical role in storing renewable energy during peak production times and supplying it back to the grid when demand is high, helping to stabilise the grid and power approximately 26,700 homes. The approval from South Gloucestershire was achieved through a delegated decision, following an extensive community consultation process. These discussions led to adjustments in the design, scale, and location of the project, ensuring it meets community expectations and needs. Comprising 19 battery units and spanning 2.3 hectares, the Iron Acton facility will help reduce CO2 emissions by about 18,300 tonnes annually, equivalent to taking 13,000 cars off the road. Currently, the Iron Acton Grid Supply Point (GSP) network has 120MW of solar and wind energy connected, with an additional 750MW of solar connections planned. Balance Power’s Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at this site will be crucial for stabilising network frequency, efficiently storing excess clean energy generated by the renewable energy sources for use during times of peak demand. A 100MW grid connection has been secured at the adjacent Iron Acton Grid Supply Point. While the construction timeline is still being finalised, efforts are underway to advance the energisation date. Initially set for June 2036, ongoing discussions with National Grid aim to bring this date forwards and get the project up and running sooner. Additionally, the project includes a biodiversity enhancement plan, promising a 10% increase in habitat units and a 119% boost in hedgerow units, reflecting Balance Power’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Oliver Pettersen, Connections Manager at Balance Power, expressed enthusiasm: “Securing planning permission for Iron Acton is a significant milestone and is set to make a sizeable impact on local clean energy reliability. With extensive solar development in the Iron Acton area, this project will be pivotal for managing excess power generation and more broadly for balancing out the supply and demand of renewable energy, helping to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Due to the size and scale of the project, it also marks a big step forward for the UK’s transition to net zero, which depends upon battery storage projects that provide stability for a decarbonised grid. We’re grateful for the support from South Gloucestershire and the community – it’s due to our collective efforts and close collaboration that we’ve reached this brilliant outcome.” Since 2017, Balance Power has been pioneering decentralised energy projects across the UK, collaborating with stakeholders to meet decarbonisation goals. With nearly 2GW of projects in development, Balance Power continues to lead the transformation of the UK’s energy landscape. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals