The UK's incentive framework is built on a highly structured 'Cluster Sequencing' model, which provides direct capital support and revenue certainty through the Dispatchable Power Agreement (DPA) and the industrial Carbon Capture (ICC) business models. In 2025, the UK government committed an additional £20 billion over 20 years to support the Track-1 (Hynet and East Coast Cluster) and Track-2 projects. These business models function similarly to Contracts for Difference, insulating project developers from volatile carbon prices and ensuring that CCS remains an economically viable option for the power and industrial sectors. The 2025 funding window also includes specific allocations for CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, ensuring that the 'hubs' are fully funded ahead of individual capture projects, thereby reducing cross-chain risk.

statutory

The UK's regulatory framework for CO2 storage is among the most advanced globally, managed by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA). In 2025, the NSTA has issued multiple new storage licenses following a successful bidding round, providing a clear legal path for offshore sequestration. The regulatory regime includes strict requirements for site characterization, monitoring, and financial security, aligned with the Energy Act 2023. The framework also addresses long-term liability, with a clear mechanism for the transfer of responsibility to the state after a period of post-closure stability. Furthermore, the 2025 planning reforms have introduced 'National Policy Statements' for CCUS, accelerating the permitting of onshore pipelines and capture facilities by designating them as projects of national significance.

market

The UK has pioneered the development of a comprehensive 'Network Code' for CO2 transport and storage in 2025, establishing the market rules for multi-user infrastructure. This code defines the commercial relationships between capture plants and storage operators, ensuring open access and transparent pricing based on a regulated asset base (RAB) model. This market structure is designed to attract private investment into infrastructure while protecting consumers from excessive costs. The UK is also integrating its domestic ETS with the CCUS framework, allowing for the generation of 'Negative Emissions' credits for BECCS projects. The maturation of the Track-1 clusters has created a competitive market for capture technology providers and engineering services, positioning the UK as a global exporter of carbon management expertise.

strategic

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Strategically, CCUS is a central pillar of the UK's 'Net Zero Strategy' and its commitment to decarbonizing the industrial heartlands. The 2025 update to the strategy reinforces the target of capturing 20-30 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030, with a focus on 'Green Jobs' and regional leveling up. Strategically, the UK aims to become a global hub for CO2 storage, leveraging its vast North Sea capacity to serve neighboring European emitters. This vision is supported by the 2025 'Carbon Management Roadmap,' which integrates CCUS with the nation's energy security and industrial competitiveness goals. The UK also plays a leading role in international climate diplomacy, advocating for global standards for carbon removal and storage, ensuring that its domestic successes contribute to a global net-zero trajectory.

Technical Metadata

Lead Institution N/A

Release Date 2024-01-01

Legal Weight Guideline/Policy

Last Intelligence Audit 2026-03-19

英国二氧化碳运输与存储网络准则

National Governance Context

英国 Overview

Related Policy Network

Peer Frameworks

Directly Linked Assets

Acorn H2

Fife ethylene plant

Acorn Isle of Grain to Peterhead shipping

Cauldon cement plant

Veolia EfW to fuels

CORY EfW plant Belvedere

Lighthouse Green Fuels

Emerge CCS

North Lincolnshire Green Energy Park (NLGEP)

Altalto

Seal Sands TGEPL

Saint-Gobain glass

Connah's Quay Low Carbon Power (CQLCP) Phase 1

Sullom voe terminal and Shetland basin hub (SVT) - Thistle injection phase 1

Shetland Offshore power generation

DelpHYnus hydrogen production Theddlethorpe

Drax BECCS Project (Phase 1)

Drax BECCS Project (Phase 2)

Connah's Quay Low Carbon (CQLCP) Power Phase 2

Killingholme Low Carbon Power project

Lynemouth Power Station (BECCS)

RWE CCGT Great Yarmouth (Norfolk)

Sullom voe terminal and Shetland basin hub (SVT) - Magnus phase 2

Sullom voe terminal and Shetland basin hub (SVT) - Regional Expansion phase 3

North Tees Hydrogen CO2 capture

Future Biogas plants phase 1

Future Biogas plants phase 2

H21 Leeds City Gate - Teesside hydrogen

H2NorthEast Phase 1

H2NorthEast Phase 2

BP H2Teesside Phase 1

BP H2Teesside Phase 2

Hydrogen to Humber (H2H) Saltend phase 1

INEOS Grangemouth refinery and hydrogen production

Keadby 3 Carbon Capture Power Station

Liverpool Bay CCS project phase 1

Liverpool Bay CCS expansion project (phase 2)

Net Zero Teesside Power

Northern Endurance Partnership phase 1

Hanson Padeswood Cement Works CCS

Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station

Peterhead Power Station CCS (2011 version)

Phillips 66 Humber refinery

Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery Phase 1

Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery Phase 2

Project Cavendish Phase 1

Project Cavendish Phase 2

Redcar Energy Centre EfW

Humber Hub Blue North Killingholme

HyNet Hydrogen Production Project (HPP) Plant 1 (Hynet phase 1)

Northeast Scotland DAC

Suez Tees Valley / Haverton Hill Waste to Energy CCS

Viridor Runcorn CCS project

Viking CCS Phase 1

Viking CCS Phase 2

VPI Immingham CHP plant CCS

Whitetail Clean Energy

Sizewell C nuclear-powered DAC Full-scale

Hynet Northwest phase 3

Northern Endurance Partnership phase 2

Northern Endurance Partnership phase 3

Centrica Equinor hydrogen hub Easington collaboration

Milford Haven CO2 Project (Part of Pembroke Net Zero Centre (PNZC))

Bacton CCS

Ince Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage (InBECCS) scaleup

Protos CO2 network phase 1

Protos CO2 network phase 2

Medway CCGT power station

Grain CCGT power station

Damhead Creek CCGT power station

Medway Hub CCS

Energy Recovery Facility Edmonton EcoPark

Stanlow Oil Refinery

Morecambe Net Zero