Harbour Energy’s high capacity storage and transportation project to support industrial carbon capture on the Humber is entering the planning phase.
V Net Zero aims to use the depleted gas fields in the Viking area to hold emissions currently pumped into the atmosphere as decarbonisation ambitions are realised in the heaviest polluting UK cluster.
A new build pipeline to the repurposed former Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal - until recently used to fire up the cluster - is deemed a nationally significant infrastructure project, requiring a development consent order from the Secretary of State.
Read more: How carbon capture can seal the Humber's emergence as the industrial equivalent of Silicon Valley
A two-phase consultation process will open on Tuesday, to examine the 53km route, with an investment of £500 million anticipated. Port links via Immingham to enable shipping and trading are also being explored, with a storage licence granted in October.
Harbour’s European president and chief executive, Phil Kirk, has previously told how it would generally follow the existing route to get gas to the cluster.
The initial consultation will remain open until June 7, with a second phase - the statutory consultation - to launch in the autumn.
Harbour intends to publish a feedback report then submit the development consent order application in spring next year.
“Local residents and businesses will be sent an invitation to attend in-person events and a virtual consultation room has been set up online at www.vnetzeropipeline.co.uk,” a spokesperson said.
“Harbour hopes that these will provide details about proposals for the V Net Zero pipeline; give people an opportunity to ask questions to the project team and gather feedback on the proposals, which will be used to inform decisions.”
February saw engineering specialist Kent appointed to drive forward the project.
V Net Zero proposes to hold at least 11 million tonnes of CO2 per year, providing the capacity to help decarbonise more than 50 per cent of the Humber region’s industrial activity. It aims to carry emissions produced by Humber Zero lead partners Phillips 66 and VPI Immingham, as well as Prax Lindsey Oil Refnery, EPUKI South Humber Bank Power Station and its proposed energy centre.
Once at Theddlethorpe, the existing infrastructure that forms the Lincolnshire Offshore Gas Gathering Systems would be used, repurposed for carbon storage.
The spokesperson added: “Harbour is committed to engaging with as many local stakeholders as possible during both consultation phases and further updates will be available on the V Net Zero Pipeline website and the V Net Zero social media pages.”
Harbour’s involvement comes from owning the southern North Sea assets once operated by ConocoPhillips.
The upstream and exploratory arm of the Humber Refinery’s US owner sold them off in 2019.
As Chrysaor, Harbour swooped, with a name change following a recent merger with Premier Oil Plc. It began joining the dots of a transport system featuring 2,000 km of pipelines offshore, and three different systems.
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