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 in the UK. Miliband praised the generations of coal workers who had powered the country for over a century and said the investment would create 4,000 jobs in the industrial heartlands, with an initial capacity to remove over 8.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. In response, the shadow Secretary of State, Claire Coutinho, acknowledged the positive news but criticised Miliband for failing to give credit to the work done under the previous Conservative government. She noted that the funding and business models had been set out in the 2022 Energy Security Bill, and that the former Chancellor had announced £20 billion in support for CCUS. Coutinho also raised concerns about the impact of the government's net zero plans on British industry and jobs. The debate that followed saw broad support for the CCUS investment, with Labour MPs welcoming the jobs and economic opportunities it would bring to their constituencies. Several speakers, including the Chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, emphasised the crucial role of CCUS in decarbonising hard-to-abate industries and enabling the production of low-carbon hydrogen. However, some expressed concerns about the cost and feasibility of the technology, with the Liberal Democrat spokesperson calling for greater transparency on the delivery plan and milestones. The discussion also touched on the need to ensure the benefits of the investment are felt across the UK, with speakers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland calling for progress on projects in their regions. The Secretary of State reiterated the government's commitment to the Acorn project in Scotland and said further announcements would be made in the coming months. Towards the end of the debate, there was some disagreement over the role of CCUS in relation to fossil fuels, with the Green Party spokesperson arguing against investment in new gas power stations and blue hydrogen. The Secretary of State defended the need for a mix of technologies, including CCUS, to achieve the country's climate goals and support the transition. Overall, the debate highlighted the significance of the government's CCUS investment, with broad support for the economic and environmental benefits it could bring, tempered by concerns about cost, feasibility and the need for a balanced approach to decarbonisation.