Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage

The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, opened the debate by announcing a historic £21.7 billion investment in five carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) projects across two clusters in the north-west and north-east of England. He hailed this as the start of a new era, marking the end of 142 years of coal-fired electricity generation and the beginning of the UK's journey to become a clean energy superpower. Miliband argued that CCUS is critical to meeting the UK's climate commitments, citing expert bodies like the Climate Change Committee and International Energy Agency. He said the investment will unlock the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries, enable low-carbon hydrogen production, and play a key role in delivering clean power by 2030 and beyond. Miliband emphasised that this represents a significant shift from the "dither and delay" of previous governments. In response, the shadow Secretary of State, Claire Coutinho, acknowledged the positive news but criticised Miliband for failing to recognise the work of the previous Conservative government in laying the groundwork for these projects. Coutinho argued that the funding announced was actually less than what had been previously committed, and she raised concerns about the impact of Labour's net zero plans on British industry and jobs. The debate that followed covered a wide range of topics. Members from both sides of the House welcomed the investment and its potential to create skilled, well-paid jobs in the industrial heartlands. There was discussion around the role of CCUS in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, the need to support existing industries like steel and chemicals, and the importance of ensuring a just transition. Several speakers, including from the Liberal Democrats and Greens, raised concerns about the use of CCUS to enable the continued extraction and use of fossil fuels, arguing that the focus should be on scaling up renewable energy and natural carbon capture solutions. The Secretary of State defended the need for a mix of technologies, including CCUS, to achieve the UK's climate goals. Members from Scotland and Northern Ireland pressed the Government to provide funding and support for projects in their regions, such as the Acorn CCUS project in Aberdeenshire. The Secretary of State acknowledged the importance of these projects and committed to addressing them in the coming months. Overall, the debate highlighted the significance of the Government's CCUS investment, the ongoing debate around the role of different decarbonisation technologies, and the need to ensure a fair and inclusive transition to a net zero economy that supports workers and communities across the UK.