Italian multinational energy company Eni has secured UK government backing for its Liverpool Bay CO2 transport and storage project.
The funding, awarded through the government’s Track 1 project selection, positions Eni’s initiative as a key player in the UK’s emerging carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry.
The project will form part of the broader HyNet North West initiative, aiming to decarbonise the industrial heartland of North West England and North Wales by providing infrastructure to transport and permanently store CO2.
With this funding, Eni will be responsible for constructing and managing the CO2 transport and storage system, using existing offshore infrastructure in Liverpool Bay.
“Eni is committed to playing a pivotal role in the energy transition,” the company stated, adding that the funding underscores its long-term goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.
The Liverpool Bay CO2 storage facility is designed to handle emissions from local heavy industry, including chemicals, cement and steel production, sectors that are challenging to decarbonise through other means.
The government funding provides a financial boost as the project transitions from the planning phase into construction. According to the UK government, this investment will help position the UK as a leader in carbon capture technology, enabling the country to meet its climate goals and support job creation in the green economy.
“Projects like HyNet North West will be crucial in helping the UK meet its carbon reduction targets,” Eni stated, stressing that its CO2 infrastructure will play a vital role in driving emissions reductions across the region.
The CO2 storage site will use depleted offshore gas reservoirs beneath Liverpool Bay. Eni’s technical expertise in repurposing these reservoirs is expected to enhance the project’s viability and long-term success.
HyNet North West, of which this project is part, aims to reduce carbon emissions by up to 10 million tonnes annually by 2030.
“Through projects like this, we are committed to delivering reliable and sustainable energy solutions,” Eni said.
With work on the project already progressing, Eni expects that the first carbon storage operations could begin as early as 2026. This will coincide with the broader rollout of CCS facilities across the UK as part of its Track 1 carbon capture and storage clusters.
Track 1 is a UK government initiative to accelerate carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) projects. It focuses on supporting industrial clusters with high emissions, providing infrastructure to capture and store CO2.
Eni’s Liverpool Bay project is part of HyNet North West, one of the two clusters selected to help the UK meet its Net Zero targets by 2050.
