Acorn, the consortium consisting of lead developer Storegga, technical developer Shell, Harbour Energy, and North Sea Midstream Partners, has been granted licences by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) for its carbon storage projects, known as Acorn East and East Mey, beneath the North Sea.

These licences significantly boost Acorn’s carbon storage capacity, enabling it to store approximately 240 megatonnes (Mt) of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Acorn’s transport and storage network is a critical component of the Scottish Cluster’s plan to capture and securely store carbon dioxide emissions from various sources, situated 100 kilometres offshore in geological formations 2.5 kilometres below the seabed.

A spokesperson for Acorn said: “These extensive areas of subsea acreage are key elements in Acorn’s long term strategy.

“The NSTA’s award of these carbon storage licences is welcome news, as we continue to respond to the government’s Track-2 process.”

Shell UK and Esso have secured three carbon storage appraisal licences through the UK’s inaugural carbon storage licensing round.

These licences encompass the Sean and Indefatigable gas fields, along with a saline aquifer located off the coast near Humberside.

David Bunch, Shell UK Country Chair said: “For more than 50 years, the Southern North Sea has been the heartland of a booming gas industry, powering homes and businesses across the UK

“Now we enter a new phase, where these fields and aquifers can be repurposed to store carbon dioxide to help combat climate change.”

Article source: https://www.energylivenews.com/2023/09/15/acorn-gets-green-light-for-massive-co2-storage-expansion/