Environment Agency sets out carbon capture guidance

The Environment Agency has set out guidance for the use of industrial carbon capture, which can trap carbon dioxide emissions at source and prevent them from reaching the atmosphere.

Coming after the government announced aims to capture 10m tonnes a year by 2030, the guidance for post-combustion CO₂ capture (PCC) was produced with the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre, and other regulators and industry stakeholders.

Operators aiming to capture CO₂ from their combustion processes in England will need an environmental permit from the Environment Agency. The guidance is aimed at helping businesses, which must demonstrate that they meet strict requirements that protect the environment and communities before being granted a permit.

Points in the guidance include maximising the thermal energy efficiency of the power plant and heat supply for PCC plants, and monitoring the process to show that it is not harming the environment.

Lee Rawlinson, director of regulated industry at the Environment Agency, said: “The Environment Agency has an important part to play in permitting many of the energy technologies that are likely to emerge over the coming years. This is part of our climate ambition, to help create a ‘net zero’ nation that is resilient to climate change.

“As an environmental regulator, our role is to ensure that these new technologies, including carbon capture, are conducted in a way that protects people and the environment. Our ‘Best Available Technique’ guidance will go a long way towards achieving that.”

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