The Crown Estate has announced the creation of the Offshore Wind and CCUS Co-location Forum.
The forum will identify the key challenges and opportunities associated with the co-location of Offshore Wind and Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS) infrastructure, as well as solutions to help make this a reality where needed.
Following the advice of the Climate Change Committee, both offshore wind and CCUS have a significant role to play in helping the UK achieve its net zero by 2050 obligations.
As suitable space on the seabed is limited, and as capacities for both will need to increase to meet this target, it is anticipated that that there will be a number of areas that will require infrastructure in the same location.
Led by The Crown Estate, the Forum brings together the offshore wind and CCUS industries including the Oil & Gas Authority (OGA), the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) and RenewableUK, as well as government and Crown Estate Scotland.
It will provide strategic coordination of co-location research and activity and help maximise the potential of the seabed for these two critical activities.
The Forum has been developed in response to the recommendations of the CCUS & Offshore Wind Overlap Study, which examined the risks that may result from the development of offshore wind and CCUS projects in similar locations.
The central recommendation of the study is the formation of an oversight body to co-ordinate future activity in this area.
The study has been funded by The Crown Estate with support from Crown Estate Scotland and the OGA, and was conducted by the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (ORE) together with the Net Zero Technology Centre (formerly called OGTC).
The Crown Estate managing director of marine Huub den Rooijen said: “Reaching the nation’s net zero target is one of the greatest challenges of our time.
“Offshore renewable technologies and carbon storage have a critical role to play in reaching this target and we are focussed on maximising the potential of the seabed to enable their sustainable growth.
“With the seabed more in demand than ever before, collaboration will be key to unlocking this potential.
“We are therefore delighted that industry, government and Crown Estate Scotland are joining us in this ground-breaking Forum which will provide the knowledge and evidence to enable the CCUS and offshore wind sectors to flourish and deliver innovative, world-class solutions to tackle the climate challenge.”
Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) head of UK office Olivia Powis said: “We are delighted to be part of the new Offshore Wind and CCUS Co-location Forum, bringing together two industries that will be critical to achieving net zero.
“As the UK prepares to host COP26 later this year, it is vital that we work together to bring forward all solutions that will be needed to solve the climate crisis.
“Offshore wind is already a UK success story and through initiatives such as this forum, we can develop the framework that will bring forward CCUS projects in line with the Climate Change Committee’s Sixth Carbon Budget – thereby creating another tremendous success story, with high UK content.”
The Forum’s first priority will be to define and shape workstreams and activities centred on resolving technical, operational and regulatory overlap issues.
The first meeting will take place towards the end of the month.