On the 16th August, 2021, the Planning Inspectorate accepted for examination the application for ‘The Net Zero Teesside Project’. We are incredibly proud of our team for playing their part in supporting an application for a carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) project that aims to decarbonise a cluster of carbon-intensive businesses.

The Applicants – Net Zero Teesside Power Limited “NZT Power” and “Net Zero North Sea Storage Limited “NZNS Storage” (comprised of a consortium of five OGCI members – BP, Eni, Equinor, Shell and Total, with BP leading as operator) are seeking development consent for the construction, operation, and maintenance of The Net Zero Teesside Project on land in the vicinity of the former Redcar Steel Works site, Redcar and in Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside.

With the potential to capture up to 10 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year – the equivalent to the annual energy use of up to three-million homes in the UK. The Project involves both onshore and offshore work, with a new gas-fired power station, incorporating the latest carbon capture technology. Carbon dioxide from the power station and local industries will be captured, gathered through a carbon dioxide pipeline network, compressed and transported for permanent storage at a suitable offshore geological site under the North Sea; with the offshore transportation and storage infrastructure developed through the Northern Endurance Partnership.

The Northern Endurance Partnership was formed between NZT consortium partner’s bp, Eni, Equinor, Shell and Total and National Grid to develop carbon dioxide transport and storage infrastructure in the North Sea, with bp as the operating company. This infrastructure will serve Net Zero Teesside and the nearby CCUS project Zero Carbon Humber (ZCH) and aims to play a significant role in local and national low carbon strategies in line with meeting the UK Government’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Building on established relationships with both Aecom and DWD, and supported by our Atlas and Geospatial Insights (AGI) directorate, Ardent’s Land Referencing team were appointed by the applicant to undertake full land referencing activities (including the production of the Land Plans and Book of Reference), leading up to the DCO application.