Why is CCS necessary?
CO2Sense is committed to helping Yorkshire and Humber reduce its carbon emissions and switch to renewable and low carbon methods of meeting its energy needs. We’re realistic though, and recognise that this can’t be achieved overnight. Over the next few decades we fully expect that fossil fuels will remain our main source of energy. That’s why we have a programme exploring the potential of large scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to limit the impact of current CO₂ emissions from heavy industry and power generation using fossil fuels. The programme offers the potential for Yorkshire and Humber to become a global leader in this technology – showing the world how it can be done.

We have a national target of reducing carbon emissions by 80% on a 1990 baseline by 2050. This target is ambitious, and the government is resolute that CCS could be a major contributor to meeting it.

The International Energy Agency's research led to The BLUE Map below, that shows how the carbon reduction challenge can be solved most cost effectively on a world-wide basis. The graph shows what the world CO₂ emissions caused by power generation will be if we take no action – 62 giga tonnes of carbon dioxide every year by 2050. If we reach the reduction target that has been set, this will have to be reduced to just 14 giga tonnes of CO₂ per year. As the graph shows, CCS can save 19% of the CO₂ in the world that will be necessary to meet these targets.  

With annual greenhouse gas emissions of 60 million tonnes from a few large industrial sites and access to the depleting gas reservoirs of the southern North Sea, the region has the potential to safely conduct CCS on a commercial scale that few other areas can rival. To kick-start this infrastructure, CO2Sense aims to enable the development of a CO₂ transportation network, which would generate up to £1.8bn in GVA and support up to 55,000 jobs during construction alone. And in doing so, help establish an internationally recognised low carbon hub that can bring benefits to businesses and communities.