The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has launched a carbon storage licensing round, providing 14 sites for exploration and appraisal across Scottish and English waters.
This is the UK’s second carbon storage licensing round following a similar process in September 2023, in which 21 licences were awarded.
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The NSTA said the sites offered in the latest round would support future capacity, facilitating industrial decarbonisation efforts in the UK and Europe.
These areas fall into two categories, comprising depleted hydrocarbon fields selected by the NSTA and saline aquifer sites identified after a call for nomination process earlier this year.
This process allowed industry partners to indicate locations that provided a higher chance of successful project delivery.
The NSTA selected the sites following consultation with Crown Estate Scotland and the Crown Estate, which manage seabed rights in Scottish and English waters, respectively.
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By GlobalDataAmong the 14 areas, five are in Scottish waters, with the remaining nine situated off the coast of England.
NSTA chief executive Stuart Payne said: “The UK Government has signalled its total support for carbon storage and the jobs and investment it can create as a vital part of the energy transition.
“We are proud to be launching this licensing round, working in collaboration with other authorities, especially Crown Estate Scotland and the Crown Estate to support this vital industry in the next stage of its development.”
Applicants seeking a licence from the NSTA should secure a seabed agreement from either Crown Estate Scotland or the Crown Estate in English waters before a project can advance.
The NSTA stated that it will collaborate with Crown Estate Scotland and the Crown Estate to streamline the licensing and leasing processes for developers.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) involves capturing CO₂ emissions from industrial sources and transporting them for storage deep underground in geological formations offshore.
CCS is considered necessary to decarbonise the UK’s major industrial hubs.
The current licensing round will remain open until 24 March 2026, after which applications will be reviewed, and licences will be awarded in early 2027.
Crown Estate marine managing director Gus Jaspert said: “Carbon capture is vital in supporting hard-to-abate industries to decarbonise and is a core element of the UK’s energy transition.
“We have worked with the NSTA to ensure the interests of other vital sectors including offshore wind, aggregates, cables and nature were considered.
“We look forward to continuing to work together and collaborating through our Marine Delivery Routemap programme as we evolve our approach to seabed leasing for carbon capture and storage to support the sector’s development.”
The Climate Change Committee has stated that there cannot be a viable path to net zero by 2050 without the implementation of carbon storage.
Last year, in March, the NSTA introduced new guidelines for oil and gas producers, focusing on decarbonisation to meet net-zero targets and secure regulatory approvals.
Through CCS, the UK expects to store up to 30 million tonnes of CO₂ per year by 2030.
