Liverpool Bay CCS Project Reaches Financial Close With Eni and UK

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The Liverpool Bay carbon capture and storage (CCS) project has reached a major milestone as Eni and the UK government announced financial close. This development strengthens the country’s ambition to meet its Net Zero targets while positioning Liverpool Bay as a cornerstone of the United Kingdom’s carbon management strategy. The project, part of the broader HyNet North West initiative, aims to provide permanent carbon storage solutions for industrial emitters across the North West of England and North Wales.

Understanding the Liverpool Bay CCS project and its pivotal role in carbon capture

The Liverpool Bay CCS project is designed to support the decarbonization of the UK’s most energy-intensive industries. Leveraging Eni’s operational experience and existing offshore infrastructure, the initiative involves repurposing depleted gas reservoirs to safely and permanently store captured carbon dioxide.

Initially, the storage site will handle approximately 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ per year, equivalent to taking nearly one million cars off the road annually. This capacity is expected to expand as more industries link into the network, reinforcing Liverpool Bay’s centrality in building a national carbon storage system.

Financial close solidifies the project’s trajectory and unlocks new investment

Securing financial close marks a significant step toward full project delivery. This commitment by Eni and the UK government demonstrates confidence in the project’s viability and its critical role in supporting national decarbonization efforts. It also provides the funding needed to progress to the construction phase, including offshore pipeline repurposing and installation of key CO₂ compression facilities.

The financial agreement enables Eni to move forward under the carbon storage licensing regime granted by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA). Importantly, it signals a broader market confidence in the scalability and reliability of CCS projects as viable climate mitigation solutions.

Eni’s leadership in the HyNet North West project and global carbon management strategies

As the operator of the Liverpool Bay CCS infrastructure, Eni plays a leading role within the HyNet North West cluster. The broader HyNet initiative aims to provide low-carbon hydrogen production, carbon capture, and storage capabilities to decarbonize major industrial sectors in the region.

Globally, Eni continues to invest in low-carbon technologies as part of its long-term strategy to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. The Liverpool Bay CCS project aligns with Eni’s portfolio of decarbonization efforts, including other CCS hubs under development in Europe and North Africa.

The success of the Liverpool Bay CCS project will play a significant role in helping the UK reach its 2030 emissions reduction goals and its broader 2050 Net Zero commitments. The project creates an opportunity to build a scalable, replicable model for CCS deployment across industrial clusters nationwide.

With ongoing government support and private sector investment, Liverpool Bay could eventually enable the storage of tens of millions of tonnes of CO₂ annually, offering a resilient backbone for the UK’s energy transition. The project also highlights how public-private partnerships can accelerate the commercialization of technologies essential for a low-carbon future.

Sources:

• Eni official press release
• North Sea Transition Authority