World’s first offshore mega-hub to bury 109 million tons of CO2 beneath seabed

The UK has recently installed the world’s first purpose-built offshore hub in order to transport and store carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial facilities beneath the seabed.

The massive structure was set in Liverpool Bay, in the Irish Sea between England and Wales on Thursday, October 8. It weighs approximately 4,817 US tons (4,370 metric tons) and will move captured CO2 into underground reservoirs that once held natural gas.

The hub was completed by Liverpool Bay CCS, a project operated by Rome-based Eni CCUS Holding. The firm is jointly owned by Italian energy giant Eni and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which is part of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager.

Known as Douglas CCS, the structure is expected to support the HyNet industrial decarbonization cluster. The low-carbon and hydrogen energy project will unlock a low-carbon economy and slash emissions from industries in northwest England and north Wales.

Storing CO2 beneath the seabed

The novel offshore facility is part of the wider Liverpool Bay CCS project, which is now 50 percent complete. The structure will receive CO2 captured from industrial sites and send it through existing pipelines beneath the sea.

The pipelines were previously utilized to transport natural gas. They will now carry captured carbon dioxide into depleted gas reservoirs beneath the seabed for safe, long-term storage. According to Eni, reusing the existing infrastructure will reduce the need for new construction.

An aerial view of a coastal industrial facility near Liverpool Bay, England. Credit: The Crown Estate

The Douglas CCS platform was delivered in less than 18 months after the contract was awarded. It is made up of topside facilities that weigh roughly 2,078 US tons (1,885 metric tons) and a supporting jacket structure of another 1,935 US tons (1,755 metric tons).

In addition, it is secured to the seabed by eight foundation piles with a combined weight of 805 US tons (730 metric tons). Together, these components add up to approximately 4,817 US tons (4,370 metric tons). “The new Douglas CCS is the first purpose-built offshore platform dedicated to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) for industrial decarbonization in the world,” company officials said.

Supporting domestic employment

The installation represents a crucial achievement in the Liverpool Bay CCS project. Around 60 percent of its total investment expenditure is being delivered through UK-based supply chains.

What’s more, its construction is supporting over 2,000 jobs. Overall, the project is set to create up to 300 long-term roles, over an operational period exceeding 25 years. Its first phase is expected to store 109 million tons of CO2 over its lifetime. Annual capacity will initially reach 4.5 million tons, with plans to expand to 10 million tons after 2030.

“Liverpool Bay CCS forms part of Eni CCUS Holding’s portfolio of CCS initiatives and represents a key project in the company’s strategy to develop CO2 transportation and storage infrastructure to support industrial decarbonization at scale,” Eni concluded in a press release.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology captures CO2 from power plants and industrial facilities before it actually enters the atmosphere. The gas is then transported deep underground for long-term storage. It is particularly beneficial for industries where switching to electricity or renewable energy alone cannot easily reduce emissions.