The UK’s ports sector is urging policymakers to integrate CO2 shipping into the country’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) strategy, cautioning that without it the UK risks losing momentum to international competitors. In an article (titled ‘Talking CO2 Shipping: Let’s Not Miss the Boat’), ABP made clear that while pipelines will remain central to the UK’s decarbonisation plans, maritime transport could extend the reach of CCS to a wider range of regions and industries.
Ralph Windeatt, Group Head of Business Development at Associated British Ports (ABP), said: ‘Shipping isn’t just a technical alternative to pipelines, it has the potential to be a strategic enabler for CCS networks. It allows emitters within regions that do not benefit from direct pipeline access to geological storage to benefit from CCS solutions. That means more businesses can decarbonise, more regions can benefit, and more investment can flow into the UK’s coastal economy.’
This, he argued, would allow emitters in regions without direct pipeline access, such as the Thames, Solent and South Wales clusters, to participate in carbon storage schemes, while also positioning the UK as an exporter of storage capacity to European industry.
The government has committed £22 billion to Track 1 CCS clusters and has pledged development funding for Track 2, with a final investment decision expected this parliament. Industry executives warn, however, that focusing solely on pipelines risks concentrating investment and employment in a limited number of geographies.
Shipping could distribute the economic impact more widely, stimulating investment in liquefaction facilities, loading terminals and specialised carriers. ABP has said its ports in Immingham, Hull and Port Talbot are positioned to act as hubs.
A recent report by the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) and Xodus Group indicated that a Europe-wide CO2 market could cut storage costs by up to 20%, while research from Clarksons and the CCSA has found that commercial models for shipping are viable. Remaining barriers are largely regulatory, including the need for alignment between the UK and EU emissions trading systems and ratification of amendments to the London Protocol, which would permit cross-border carbon transport.
Norway’s Northern Lights project, which is now operational, is the region’s first large-scale, open-access CO2 transport and storage network and is regarded as a model for similar initiatives. The International Energy Agency’s Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme (IEAGHG) has also highlighted the flexibility and resilience that shipping can add alongside fixed pipeline networks.
The Global CCS Institute has projected a hundredfold increase in global CCS capacity by 2050. In Europe, CCS Europe and the Zero Emissions Platform have mapped out a sizeable potential market for CO₂ shipping, but point to investment, regulatory clarity and standardisation as prerequisites for growth.
With one of the largest offshore storage capacities in Europe, the UK is in a strong position to serve continental emitters. A pan-European network, supported by shipping as well as pipelines, could enhance Britain’s role in the maritime carbon economy.
Windeatt noted that the competitive landscape is moving quickly. ‘Other nations with strategic geological storage assets with CO₂ connectivity are pressing ahead and we should too,’ he said. Industry participants argue that finalising business models and securing regulatory alignment are now urgent priorities if the UK is to establish a leading position in this emerging market.
