As the UK works toward its net zero ambitions, attention is increasingly turning offshore, where geological formations under the sea floor may hold the key to long-term carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚) storage. 

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) encompasses a range of technologies designed to significantly reduce emissions from large industrial sources such as steelworks, cement plants and thermal power stations. COâ‚‚ is captured at source, transported and then injected into suitable rock formations deep beneath the surface, typically at depths of over 800 m. Geologists at BGS are working to better understand the subsurface geology of the Central North Sea and its suitability for storing COâ‚‚ captured from major industrial sources. This work could release one of the UK largest, yet least-developed, carbon storage resources and underpin the in CCS projects.

Despite accounting for approximately 60 per cent of the UK total estimated COâ‚‚ storage capacity, the Central North Sea remains under-represented and highlights a major opportunity for the Government clean energy growth agenda. 

A nation rich in storage potential 

Deploying CCS at scale is a key pillar of the UK Government . Current ambitions are to store at least 50 million tonnes of COâ‚‚ per year by 2030, rising to as much as 170 million tonnes annually by 2050. 

The UK is exceptionally well positioned for offshore COâ‚‚ storage. Estimates suggest that total theoretical storage capacity exceeds 70 billion tonnes. The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), which regulates offshore COâ‚‚ storage, launched its first competitive licensing round in 2022 and followed this with a second round announced in December 2025. 

These licences allow operators to explore and appraise potential storage sites as a precursor to applying for permits that enable COâ‚‚ injection. Due to favourable geology and proximity to onshore emission hubs, most licences to date have been located in the Southern North Sea, with additional clusters in Liverpool Bay, Morecambe Bay and the Northern North Sea. However, the region with most storage potential lies elsewhere.

The drive to map this untapped potential

The enormous, currently untapped potential beneath the Central North Sea lies in extensive sandstone formations in the region. Multiple sequences of stacked Palaeogene sandstone units represent a vast potential COâ‚‚ storage resource, with more than 10 billion tonnes of theoretical capacity (approximately one quarter of the basin total regional storage capacity). These sandstones were deposited between 40 and 65 million years ago in deep-water marine fan systems. The complex stacked and interdigitated nature of these sandstone bodies raises important geological questions that must be resolved before large-scale storage can proceed.

Key considerations include: 

• the degree of connectivity between sandstone units, which has a bearing on pressure during CO₂ injection
• balance between pressure dissipation and pressure interference between neighbouring storage sites, which affects storage capacity
• the effectiveness of the vital sealing layers above and between the sandstone formations, which might be prone to disruption by various geological phenomena
• legacy oil and gas wells, which could act as pathways for CO₂ to escape if not properly assessed

With relatively few licences currently issued in the Central North Sea, robust pre-competitive geological understanding is essential to realise the region storage potential. BGS geologists have therefore begun a comprehensive programme to better understand the Palaeogene storage system. This work will also help to address regulatory and operational challenges, particularly those related to pressure effects and interactions between disparate storage projects.

John Williams, senior geoscientist at BGS.

Decades of oil and gas exploration have generated a wealth of subsurface data, including drill core that is curated in BGS National Geological Repository. Drilling core is expensive, costing as much as £20 to 30 million for a single offshore borehole, so the ability to access pre-drilled material is invaluable, both in terms of avoided drilling costs and time saved. Alongside this archived material, BGS has also developed an integrated subsurface database and interpretations comprising existing 3D seismic and well data, and a stratigraphical framework to ensure accurate regional interpretation.

From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, BGS undertook pioneering work to evaluate the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by storing COâ‚‚ in rocks offshore UK, to help mitigate climate change and develop clean energy. This early work focused on the geological storage opportunities in the Southern North Sea and East Irish Sea regions.

Potential storage sites in these regions, first identified by BGS, are among the first to be licensed and permitted by the NSTA for COâ‚‚ storage. For the UK to reach its ambition of storing 170 million tonnes of COâ‚‚ a year by 2050, it will need to look beyond the current well-appraised geographical areas.

The stacked sandstones of the Central North Sea are relatively under-studied, with huge COâ‚‚ storage potential. Our ambition is to assess and characterise the potential geological storage system in this region to enable future COâ‚‚ storage in the UK, fast-tracking the nation CCS industry.

Michelle Bentham, chief scientist for decarbonisation and resource management at BGS.

51ÁÔÆæ is seeking to establish partnerships to help unlock this nationally significant COâ‚‚ storage resource, which could play a crucial role in the UK transition to a low-carbon future. Interested parties should contact John Williams via enquiries@bgs.ac.uk

The UK foremost research agencies and institutes have come together to launch the National Research Organisations (NRO) Group. The NRO Group is a trusted partner for government, academia and industry, providing a unified and authoritative perspective on science, policy and research investment to make research matter.

The NRO Group has been formed to address fragmentation across the UK research landscape and unlock the full potential of national research organisations. This will involve clearer governance, strategic alignment and better visibility of these unique capabilities. By creating an authoritative, collegiate voice and a trusted interface, the NRO Group ensures science-based insight informs decisions and connects major national priorities to improve people lives, boost growth and ensure security and resilience, while also driving progress toward net zero and UK environmental goals.

Research and development are essential to building a better Britain. From new treatments for cancer to breakthroughs in clean energy or developing the computers of the future, the path to a stronger economy and society will be dependent on science and innovation.

There has never been a better time for the UK’s research institutes and public research bodies to pull together. By aligning their capabilities to deliver maximum impact, the NRO Group will be a key part of our efforts to ensure that science and technology benefits everyone.

Lord Vallance, Science Minister.

51ÁÔÆæ has a long history of working closely with fellow research institutes and organisations, and we are delighted to be part of the National Research Organisations Group. Geoscience has a crucial role to play in addressing societal challenges and enabling economic growth and we look forward to continuing our work as part of this initiative, delivering geoscience for benefit of society.

Dr Karen Hanghøj, BGS Director.

The NRO Group brings together many agencies and institutes that provide unique national and international capabilities. Their principal purpose is to perform curiosity-driven and focused full-time research, from searching for new antibiotics to the clean jet engines of the future. The group is underpinned by a formal partnership agreement, to generate maximum value for the economy, security and the lives of people.

I’ve worked with many national research organisations over the last 25 years and have consistently been inspired by how their science improves lives, drives growth and ensures our national security. Through the new NRO Group, we aim to do even more good for the nation and our people.

Dr Stuart Wainwright, director of the NRO Group and CEO of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Find out more

The UK geological storage resource is amongst the largest in Europe and is critical to the country achieving net zero by 2030. Funding has been awarded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for a two-year project, ‘Maximising the UK geological storage resource’ or MaxStoreUK. The project is led by BGS with collaborators from the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) and researchers at Heriot-Watt University and The University of Manchester. The findings will inform investment decisions and policy development and maximise the use of the subsurface in the UK to reach net zero.

MaxStoreUK will build on subsurface hydrogen and carbon storage research investigations previously completed as part of the IDRIC research programme. The objectives of the new project are to:

• share tailored information on regional UK geological carbon dioxide (CO₂)and hydrogen storage opportunities with industry clusters and other key stakeholders
• present a UK hydrogen storage briefing to enable cross-sector policy collaboration
• increase understanding of CO₂ storage in a UK Central North Sea frontier area of extensive strata with multiple prospective storage sites
• advise on solutions to specific risks for UK hydrogen storage with operators and regulators that are addressed by our modelling and experimental data

We are delighted to have been awarded funding and begin the two-year project. We will build on existing engagement with stakeholders to unlock the full potential of the UK subsurface resource to meet the UK net zero targets and drive economic growth.

Dr Maxine Akhurst, principal geologist at BGS and project leader.

This project represents an exciting initiative to build further on the significant impact of IDRIC five-year multi-disciplinary research programme and our strong partnership with BGS. We look forward to continuing this valued collaboration, advancing progress and sharing knowledge in geological storage, which will accelerate the journey of our industrial heartlands towards a sustainable low-carbon future

Prof Mercedes Maroto-Valer, IDRIC Director.

In 2023, BGS entered into a data-sharing partnership with to enhance understanding of the seabed and shallow subsurface conditions across the United Kingdom continental shelf . The partnership granted BGS access to Ossian extensive survey data, with the development set to become one of the world’s largest floating wind farms.

In total the lease area covers 858km² and is located 84km off Scotland east coast. Once glaciated and now submerged at approximately 72m depth, the site offers a unique opportunity to investigate offshore stratigraphy and geomorphology in a region undergoing rapid environmental and industrial transformation. It also allows researchers to compare findings to Ossian parent company ’ other projects in the Firth of Forth: and .

As part of the project, BGS scientists hosted a dedicated workshop attended by members of the Ossian project team, which included a mini-field trip day in Midlothian close to the BGS office in Edinburgh. The field trip allowed the project teams to explore similarities to geological features found onshore and discuss the broader implications for interpreting offshore survey data. By examining glacial deposits, meltwater channels and till sequences in a terrestrial setting, geoscientists can refine offshore geological models and reduce uncertainty in infrastructure design.

A key example observed during the field trip was the heterogeneity of the sediments across relatively small areas, with notable variations in grain size, composition and depositional structure. These complexities mirror the variability of ground conditions found offshore and highlight the importance of detailed site characterisation when planning and constructing marine infrastructure.

To help contextualise the offshore data, the field trip explored several key geological sites in Midlothian, each offering valuable insights into glacial processes and sedimentary environments similar to those observed beneath the sea.

Auchencorth Moss: Black Burn exposure (Local Geodiversity Site)

Auchencorth Moss is an extensive, peat-covered plateau dissected by small streams and drainage channels. The , where a tributary joins the River North Esk near Penicuik, features an exposure of three distinct glacial tills with varying physical characteristics and compositions. Though partially obscured by slope wash and vegetation, the upper sections remain visible and accessible for study. The exposure reveals how glacial processes deposited and reworked sediments, which act as a useful analogue for interpreting stratified units offshore.

Carlops meltwater channel

There is a classic example of a subglacial meltwater channel systems at , a Geological Conservation Review Site and partially a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The bedrock-cut channels at Carlops exhibit braided forms, rock islands and chute features. These geomorphological structures help explain the beneath ice sheets, which are also evident in offshore channel features. The site also provides a good opportunity to emphasise the scale of channel features, helping to conceptualise the variability of the offshore landscape.

Hewan Bank

, an SSSI located close to Roslin Glen, presents a textbook sequence of two tills overlain by sands and gravels. The locality has been used to construct the regional glacial stratigraphy for the Edinburgh and Lothians area.

The debate over whether these represent separate glaciations or complex depositional environments mirrors the interpretive challenges faced offshore, where seismic and core data must be carefully analysed to distinguish between similar units. The wider Roslin Glen area, known for its meltwater gorge and incised meanders, also illustrates the erosional power of glacial meltwater and the formation of geomorphological features that can be traced in offshore bathymetry and sediment records.

Collaboration

The collaboration between Ossian, SSE Renewables and BGS provides important new data that is being used to update baseline geological models for the Central North Sea and the Firth of Forth. These feed into BGS publicly available offshore maps and datasets, which support a wide range of users including developers, regulators, researchers and marine planners. Integrating data from offshore wind farms such as Ossian with existing geological frameworks will help to guide future offshore developments and promote the sustainable use of marine resources.

This initiative also builds on BGS longstanding relationship with Ossian joint venture partner SSE Renewables and highlights the value of sustained collaboration in delivering large-scale renewable energy projects. The Ossian floating wind farm, which is a joint venture between SSE Renewables, and (CIP), is set to deliver up to 3.6GW of renewable energy, enough to power 6million homes and offset up to 7.5million tonnes of carbon emissions, marking a significant step forward in the UK journey to net zero.

About the author

Catriona Macdonald
Margaret Stewart

Decision makers across the UK are today considering new research that reveals areas of the subsurface with outstanding geological potential to boost economic growth. They will help unlock an estimated and energy-transition technologies. The findings identify eight ‘geological super regions’. These are the areas with a subsurface composition that is ‘just right’ to potentially host multiple energy-transition technologies, which will help deliver the UK net zero aspirations as presented in the Government Clean Power Action Plan.

Whilst other parts of the UK benefit from geology well suited to certain net zero technologies, such as shallow geothermal installations or critical minerals occurrences, these geological super regions contain subsurface formations and conditions that are favourable to multiple different technologies within a relatively small area. The geological super regions that could play a pivotal role in the application of sustainable energy production and decarbonisation are:

• Northern Ireland
• the Scottish Central Belt
• north-east England
• north-west England
• the South Yorkshire and Humber region
• the East Midlands and East Anglia
• South Wales
• south-west England

The subsurface has a vital role to play in the energy transition, acting as an enabler and helping deliver economic growth by providing:

• a sustainable heat source for geothermal energy
• geological formations for secure storage of energy and carbon dioxide (CO₂)
• rocks containing important resources for mineral extraction
• suitable geological foundation conditions for onshore and offshore wind power infrastructure projects

The benefits of a stronger renewable sector for UK residents could include improved access to secure, affordable, sustainable energy and subsurface raw materials, contributing to economic prosperity and net zero targets for the UK.

The findings provide crucial insights for decision makers looking to target further research and maximise return on investment in the pursuit of a reliable and sustainable energy future for the UK. Whilst these eight regions display many of the right geological ingredients, further investigation will be required to fully establish each region true potential, ensure safe deployment of each technology, and understand any environmental impact.

The data underpinning this research has been shaped by our current understanding of the subsurface. In some cases, this data is weighted towards existing project development and there is also a correlation with UK industrial clusters. A few parts of the country, such as the north of Scotland and parts of Wales, have been less extensively surveyed and further research is required in order to fully assess their potential.

Matching subsurface technologies and favourable geological conditions is essential for identifying regions with opportunities for investment, providing a roadmap for the UK to reach net zero emissions and ensuring a reliable and sustainable clean energy future. These findings provide a clear and deployable roadmap for decision makers to direct resources to the areas where they can deliver the greatest impact and support the through renewable energy by 2030.

Much of the UK subsurface can support at least one of the energy-transition technologies assessed, but what makes these geological super regions stand out is their versatility and potential to host multiple net zero technologies.

Work still lies ahead to accurately map these subsurface regions and BGS is uniquely positioned to undertake such investigations due to our national remit, recognised geological expertise and national geological data holdings.

Michelle Bentham, BGS Chief Scientist for decarbonisation and resource management.

Geology is a complex and diverse natural resource. Its variable characteristics have the potential to support multiple net zero technologies. Strategic planning and careful management will be vital to ensure safe and secure deployment, especially in locations where technologies may co-exist, whilst also protecting the surrounding environment for future generations.

Regional summaries and maps

Distribution maps by energy transition technology

Notes to editors

The is out.

Commissioned by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) ahead of the launch of their new Critical Minerals Strategy in 2025, the report is intended to evaluate the risk of disruption to the supply of minerals of key economic importance.

The outcome may not be one that everyone expected. It may even raise some eyebrows, as such assessments have done elsewhere in the world, and it will hopefully spark further scientific and policy discussion. I certainly hope it does.

Across the world, industry groups and active lobbies have championed the introduction of a particular material to such criticality lists, perceiving perhaps the ‘critical’ designation as a mark of prestige or privilege within an economy. Some have called on scientists to change their findings, to varying levels of success.

Our assessment identifies copper as not critical. This will likely, and understandably, be the focus of much attention — much as its omission in the 2023 USA assessment was. In similar lists focused on economies across the EU, Japan, India, China, Canada and now the USA, copper is identified as critical. Under the methodology within our report, the material did not meet the necessary threshold, as with Australia latest assessment.

This is why it is important to understand the difference in definition between ‘essential’, ‘important’ and ‘critical’. The commodities evaluated as part of this assessment were selected precisely because of their significant importance to the UK economy, but for a mineral to be ‘critical’ it must be both important and subject to a significant supply risk.

The UK is reliant on international supply for most of the 82 assessed materials at the heart of this report, with 49 of them predominately provided through imports. The competition for certain minerals is increasing by the day: for example, global demand for lithium is expected to increase more than tenfold by 2050 to support the net zero energy transition.

This assessment is built on robust data. It is a snapshot of the UK present need, our current supply chains, and demand drive estimated by consumption and existing policy. This is a steadfast, impartial and empirical point from which decision makers can progress conversations around our future needs. 

I see criticality as an ever-changing status in response to conditions. The ebb and flow of technological advancements, consumer demand, market forces, the drive for renewable energy sources and the geopolitical environment: all play a role in shaping demand and increasing the risks around supply.

Copper is an important and essential mineral to the UK economy. It has diversified uses, including power and electricity, telecommunications and digital technologies, as well as chemicals and infrastructure. Every home, office, factory and vehicle across the UK draws value from the use of copper every day. However, the 2024 UK Criticality Assessment aims to identify the minerals for which the UK economy is currently most vulnerable. In simple terms, this means those minerals that have a higher risk of supply disruption and could prompt significant economic upheaval for the UK should a disruption occur.

Against that measure, based on the scientific data used in our report, copper is not critical. Through available data, projections of refined copper production can be judged likely to meet copper demand for the relevant policies and announced pledges scenarios.

This assessment recognises that concerns around the capacity to increase global copper mine supply may lead to an increased global supply risk and, in turn, result in copper becoming critical in the future. When the data shows this point is reached, such assessments will reflect it. The dynamic nature of criticality also mean we need other types of assessments and studies, for example forecasting studies for certain minerals, and CMIC is already planning several of these.

This report lives and dies by its adherence to a methodology that is impartial. In my eyes, it is a good thing that there appears a conscious effort to meet the global demand for copper. This is an indication that the global supply chain currently produces this essential material with a sound balance between supply and demand. With the UK seeking to enhance the National Grid to accommodate a higher proportion of renewable energy and electric vehicle charging capability, this country is clearly going to need a lot of it. 

To meet global net zero greenhouse gas emission targets by 2050, we will need to increase copper mine supply by about 2 per cent above existing trends. Whilst this does not sound like much, it is recognised that there are challenges faced by the copper sector such as declining ore grades, water resources issues (for example, scarcity), and the increasing difficulty of developing large new copper projects.

This assessment is intended to stimulate discussion and allow us as a country to continue to plan effectively for the future of our economy and its place within an increasingly sophisticated and interconnected global supply chain. That discussion should be vigorous and impassioned; disagreement is an inevitable outcome. I look forward to taking part in such conversations.

I would invite all to see real success in terms of what the next criticality assessment might contain. A shorter list will be a clear indication that the UK has been successful in mitigating supply risk.

51ÁÔÆæ has broken ground on its geothermal heat pump project at its headquarters in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, with the help of Ruth Edwards, MP for Rushcliffe. The ground-source heat pump and living lab project is costing £1.7 million and is majority funded by the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) with a further contribution from the Government Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. The scheme is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and delivered by Salix Finance.

The renewable energy system will be the largest system of its kind in Rushcliffe, consisting of an array of 28 boreholes drilled to a depth of 225 m. It will save approximately 30 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂e) per year and reduce the organisation heating bill.

Forming part of BGS Keyworth campus decarbonisation plans, the proposed system will involve the removal of greenhouse gas-emitting gas boilers and will heat two buildings on the Keyworth site, where more than 400 members of staff work, including tenants and non-BGS staff.

The heating system will also benefit from advanced monitoring, which will assess the running costs and efficiency of the heat pumps and provide a case study for other organisations, such as schools and hospitals, that are thinking of switching from fossil fuel boilers to clean heat pumps.

The project will constitute a ‘living laboratory’, with state-of-the-art sensors deployed in the heat extraction boreholes and buildings. The technology will provide data in real time to help increase the public understanding of ground-source heat pumps and how they can be an effective solution for heating both new and existing buildings in the UK.

As part of this project, BGS will also be taking rock samples for further analysis to help get a better understanding of the flow of heat and water underground. The type of geology on site at Keyworth means that this information is transferable to a large part of the UK; the information generated will be of help to other, similar projects.

The installation of the ground-source heat pump is part of a wider project to help achieve UK Research and Innovation (51ÁÔÆæ) aim of reaching net zero by 2040. This also included the installation of 1000 solar panels above BGS car parking area in 2022. 

To mark the installation of this technology and the ground-source heat pump, BGS invited local MP Ruth Edwards to the site where she met with senior staff, scientists and members of the estates team at BGS to learn more about the project, as well as to see the borehole drilling taking place.

I was really honoured to be asked to break ground on the new geothermal heat pump at the 51ÁÔÆæ in Keyworth. This is a hugely exciting opportunity to help decarbonise the public sector estate. I’m thrilled that we are trialling the technology here in Rushcliffe and that the data generated by the trial will be used to inform other projects around the country. Many congratulations to all involved!

Ruth Edwards, Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe.

This inspiring project to decarbonise heat at the BGS Keyworth campus will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. This is the first geothermal heat pump system to be installed on the 51ÁÔÆæ estate and will support our journey to net zero in 2040. What makes this project extra special is the ‘living lab’ feature, which will support data collection and knowledge sharing that could inform the heat pump sector as a whole.

Mike Potter, senior environment manager at NERC.

Geothermal energy is heat that naturally occurs under the ground and is available 24/7 across the UK. This project will demonstrate the deployment of ground-source heat pump technology to decarbonise existing buildings across the public sector estate.

David Boon, senior engineering and geothermal geologist at BGS.

This exciting project gives us the opportunity to blend our observation of the subsurface with leading low-carbon heating. The disruption to BGS staff will be kept to a minimum, with short closures of a couple of buildings to allow for the installation of heat emitters. The drilling and heat pump installation is due to last around three months. The borehole installation should not impact on Keyworth site operations due to the careful planning and specification involved in the project.

Daniel Crow, head of BGS Estates and Facilities.

Cenergist are proud to be supporting the 51ÁÔÆæ in their plans to achieve net zero by 2040.Our solution for this site will provide modernised futureproof low carbon heating and hot water systems to these two buildings, significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Steve Wilkinson, head of commercial projects at Cenergist.

We are delighted to work with the 51ÁÔÆæ on this fascinating project. The state-of-the-art technology and the innovation being deployed is hugely exciting and the impact this will have on reducing carbon emissions is inspiring. We cannot wait to follow the project progress and see how a ‘living lab’ with all its detailed data collection will work and benefit this site and all the people who use it.

Ian Rodger, director of programmes at Salix.

There are a number of Government grant schemes to help the public and organisations install ground-source heat pumps. The Government aim is to see 600 000 heat pumps installed in the UK every year by 2028, as part of the UK target to reach net zero by 2050.

The UK Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) funded research by BGS and Heriot-Watt University (HWU) to update the UK’s national carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage database, adding 61 new and updating more than 210 CO₂ storage units offshore UK.

is the UK national online evaluation database that identifies the geological storage potential under the UK seabed. Geological storage of CO₂ is a key component of industry carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects to permanently reduce release of emissions to the atmosphere.

IDRIC CO₂ Stored 2.0 has delivered the first major update of the underpinning data in the UK national database since its population in 2011. Information on oil and gas is confidential for the first five years; this update has added new hydrocarbon field storage data from a 15-year period.

The updated database provides access to 630 potential storage units in the UK, including saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas fields, as well as:

• remapping and updated information for stores in the East Irish Sea Basin
• data from the Government- and industry-supported Peterhead and White Rose CCS and Strategic Storage Appraisal projects
• updates for 205 and addition of 61 hydrocarbon field storage units

The UK is a global leader in provision of online information via its national CO₂ storage resource. Data is freely available and gives users access to detailed information on the storage units within the database. It has been the starting point for industry CO₂ storage projects, as well as informing Government strategy and providing data for academic research to reduce CO₂ emissions in the UK and more widely.

I’m delighted to announce the first major update of the data underpinning the UK national CO₂ storage database by the CO₂ Stored 2.0 project. BGS is the national provider of geoscience information for the UK. Up-to-date data is now available to inform industry plans, the UK Government and regulatory strategy, and research to help reduce our CO₂ emissions in the UK and worldwide.

Maxine Akhurst, BGS Principal Geologist and project leader.

As we come closer to industrial scale roll-out of CCS in the UK Continental Shelf, it is increasingly evident that a mature hydrocarbon basin means there will be greater challenges and opportunities for successful CCS deployment. Data for 61 hydrocarbon field storage units not previously available in the database have been added: as a result, CO₂ Stored is an even more comprehensive tool for evaluating opportunities in depleted and depleting oil and gas fields and in neighbouring brine-filled aquifer formations.

Prof Eric Mackay, leader of HWU CO2Stored 2.0 research.

IDRIC whole system programme of 100 research projects has demonstrated the capacity to be responsive to industry needs and be an engine of green growth. This important research project underpins crucial knowledge to understand the UK capacity for permanent geological storage of CO₂ captured at the UK industrial clusters. CO₂ storage enables industry plans to decarbonise by deploying Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS). Up-to-date and improved understanding of the UK CO₂ storage resource is essential to inform scale-up and acceleration of these development and deployment plans by industry.

By integrating findings such as the outputs of this project across IDRIC research portfolio, we are directly informing plans for decarbonisation of the UK largest industrial clusters, as well as nurturing transformative collaborations between the clusters and academic research teams local to them.

Prof Mercedes Maroto-Valer, champion and director of the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre.