UK Government Gives Green Light to Expensive, Unproven and Harmful Hynet CCS Project While Hosting IEA summit on Energy Security

Today, while simultaneously hosting the International Energy Agency’s Summit on the Future of Energy Security, the UK government will apparently announce its final go-ahead to the HyNet project, one of four UK Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and blue hydrogen production projects. HyNet is set to receive part of £22 billion in government subsidies to rich oil and gas companies, like Italian giant Eni. 

CCS and blue hydrogen have been criticised by environmental groups, academics and communities globally due to their technological and economic ineffectiveness, lack of energy security and environmental benefits, safety concerns, and financial burden on taxpayers along with overstated job benefits. 

In response:

Rosemary Harris, North Sea Senior Campaigner at Oil Change International, said: 

“CCS is an extremely expensive failed technology that has a fifty year record of hot air and hype. The HyNet project will do next to nothing for climate, jobs, energy security, or people’s wallets. It also carries huge risks for those who live near the proposed site and the surrounding environment. Making CCS a pillar of the government’s just transition agenda is a huge risk and a missed opportunity to support real, ready-to-go solutions like renewables and energy efficiency that can build lasting jobs and sustainable communities. The government should listen to the scientific evidence and the local community’s concerns, rather than handing out yet more money to the increasingly desperate oil and gas industry”. 

Nicky Crosby, member of HyNot, a local group that opposes the project, said:  

“It’s ironic that this announcement is made during a conference about energy security because HyNet will make the UK more reliant on imported gas. As local residents we are very worried by this news. There are safety concerns around CO2 and hydrogen pipelines lacing the North West and North Wales. To have the government run around a 100 km of pipeline filled with asphyxiating and dangerous gases with risks of explosions and leaks near residential areas is unacceptable. 

“In addition to that risk, the industry’s jobs promises should be taken with a grain of salt. Most jobs will likely be in short term project construction rather than the long-term, good, sustainable jobs we need in the area. The government should be using their massive dose of taxpayer’s money to fund real solutions like investment in renewables and home insulation that will bring down energy bills, create good long term jobs and make us more energy secure.”