Carbon dioxide storage project off UK wins early nod

A project that would store carbon dioxide in a deep saline aquifer off the UK has won an early nod from the Scottish government.

Crown Estate Scotland awarded a lease option to Acorn CCS, a project of Pale Blue Dot Energy, Banchory, Scotland, that would capture CO₂ emitted by industries near the St. Fergus Gas Terminal and transport it offshore through existing pipelines.

The CO₂ would be injected into the Early Cretaceous Captain sandstone 2 km below the seabed about 100 km offshore in the Central North Sea.

Blue Dot Energy said the lease option is a precursor to a full storage lease that allows Acorn CCS to advance detailed studies.

Crown Estate Scotland said the lease option is the first it has granted for CO₂ storage.