Industrial decarbonisation is a challenge that must be addressed if the UK is to meet its legal commitment of net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. Industry currently accounts for 14 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, so decarbonising the sector is critical.
The UK Government has shown clear strategic commitment to carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), recognising the role it must play in industrial decarbonisation. The pioneering industrial emitters currently adopting this technology, represent the vanguard however, and are not necessarily representative of the entirety of industrial emitters, which also need to decarbonise. Some industrial emitters may lack the scale for economically viable point source capture or the expertise to implement and operate a plant, presenting significant barriers to adopting and operating carbon capture technologies.
Carbon Capture ‘As-a-Service’ (CaaS) could offer a decarbonisation route for these emitters. However, the CaaS market is still emerging, and with so many unknowns, it is not yet clear how it will evolve and develop. There is a need, therefore, for a deeper understanding of the key challenges and feasible implementation pathways to support industrial arrangements and inform policy makers.
To help explore this, as part of the Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) commissioned a study from Frazer-Nash Consultancy to achieve better understanding of the current CaaS landscape and explore pathways for developing a thriving market.
Newly published, the report sets out to investigate the potential for developing carbon capture as a service and principally examines how a future CaaS market could be leveraged to support industrial decarbonisation within the UK through identifying the critical development pathways. The report also identifies the necessary stakeholders to support the functions of a CaaS system and the opportunities and barriers within the market.
Each prospective CaaS system presents unique challenges from both a technical and commercial perspective, necessitating formalised support to ensure cohesion across system interfaces. A thriving UK CaaS market would embrace and integrate international advancements, both ensuring global competitiveness and learning from global examples.
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