The Humber has always been a region that drives Britain forward. From the Victorian ports that once shipped coal across the world to today’s offshore wind farms rising from the North Sea, this area has never stood still. It has adapted, innovated, and led. Now, as the UK faces its greatest industrial transition in generations to a net zero economy – the Humber is ready to do it again – this time through clean energy, with carbon capture and storage (CCS) at its heart.
This isn’t just about cutting emissions; it’s about creating jobs, attracting billions in investment, and securing the future of industries that have defined our region for decades. Steel, chemicals, glass, and energy – these sectors employ 360,000 people locally and keep Britain’s economy moving.
The region is already adapting. Refineries are leading on sustainable aviation fuels; power companies are investing in low-carbon hydrogen and carbon capture; and new sectors such as data centres, seeking clean, reliable power, are exploring opportunities in the area. CCS is a technology that will allow these industries to thrive in a low-carbon world, while generating new areas of growth.
Viking CCS – the catalyst
The Viking CCS cluster is the proposed carbon capture and storage network for the Humber, which the government has committed to reaching a final investment decision on by the end of this parliament. Centred on storing captured carbon in a depleted gas field in the North Sea, it could unlock £13 billion ($17 billion) of private investment by 2035 and create 8,000 jobs at peak construction. Thanks to the neighbouring port – the largest in the UK – the Humber could also become a global hub for carbon storage, opening the door to import opportunities worth up to £30 billion ($39 billion) a year by 2050, according to the Carbon Capture and Storage Association.
VPI is one of the first proposed users of the network. Our Immingham Combined Heat and Power Plant is the largest in Europe and has been proposed as one of Viking’s first anchor projects. It will require more than £1.5 billion ($1.96 billion) of private investment to retrofit carbon capture technology there, creating 1,500 jobs during construction, including roles in building, project management, and engineering. It will also bring high-value operational and maintenance positions once commissioned. Around 70 to 80 per cent of that work will be delivered by British companies, ensuring the benefits remain close to home.
Cost-effective
Some have raised the challenge of cost. But as a retrofit to an existing power plant, rather than building a new one from scratch, this is an efficient approach that can save up to 40 per cent or more, according to industry studies. Benefits brought by the project outweigh the cost to deliver, surpassing the threshold the government works towards.
Moreover, much of the groundwork has already been completed. Front-end engineering and design is finished, the plant holds the UK’s first environmental permit for its selected amine capture technology and has full planning consent. Construction can begin rapidly once government approval is granted and revenue support is agreed.
Viking’s contribution to decarbonisation would be substantial. The project aims to transport and store 4 million tonnes of CO2 a year by 2032. VPI alone can capture up to 3.3 million tonnes annually. This would make the network commercially viable and kickstart the wider industrial decarbonisation of the region.
Much of the necessary infrastructure is already in place for the Viking CCS cluster: the offshore pipeline from the depleted Viking gas field exists, requiring only a 55km onshore link to connect to emitters. With VPI located on its doorstep, this is a uniquely efficient and lower-risk starting point for large-scale carbon capture in the UK.
A race for leadership, and the time to act is now…
The UK is not alone in this ambition, countries like Norway are moving at pace and have projects that already operational. Investors want to back projects that are most likely to succeed. Speed and certainty therefore matter. By acting decisively on Viking CCS, with its unique benefits, Britain can maintain momentum, attract investment, create jobs, and secure long-term economic growth.
This is about more than technology, and its benefits are much broader than decarbonisation. It’s about securing the Humber’s place as Britain’s industrial powerhouse for the next generation. It’s about proving that economic growth and clean energy can go hand in hand. And it’s about giving our region the confidence that the jobs, skills, and industries that built it will continue to thrive.
The Humber has led before. With carbon capture, it can lead again – delivering prosperity, opportunity, and a future we can all believe in.
Read more: VPI’s Immingham Plant Becomes First in UK to Secure Full Carbon Capture Clearance
