The UK government has formally opened a new application round for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects seeking to connect to the East Coast Cluster ’s Teesside network, marking another step in the country’s effort to scale industrial decarbonization infrastructure.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) confirmed that developers can now submit expressions of interest to join the Teesside system by 2032. The selection process is designed to identify projects capable of utilizing remaining capacity at the Endurance offshore storage site in the Southern North Sea.
Initial expressions of interest must be submitted by 10 March, with full applications due one month later. Successful projects will be assessed on their readiness to connect to the network and their ability to integrate with the East Coast Cluster’s transport and storage infrastructure.
Olivia Powis, chief executive of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA), described the launch as a key milestone in the UK’s journey toward a fully operational, large-scale CCUS sector.
Broadening Access to the UK’s CCUS Backbone
Powis highlighted the importance of the new Transition Access Agreement, which allows projects requiring little or no government support to apply for network access. She said this approach signals a shift toward a more commercially driven CCUS model, while helping to accelerate deployment.
Ensuring projects are able to connect from 2030 onward will be critical, she added, not only for cutting industrial emissions but also for protecting skilled jobs, strengthening energy security and maximizing the value of infrastructure already under development.
The announcement coincides with the publication of a government consultation on non-pipeline transport options, including road, rail and shipping.
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According to Powis, this signals progress toward enabling a wider range of emitters to access offshore storage, particularly those located outside existing pipeline corridors.
However, she expressed concern that projects relying on non-pipeline transport are not yet eligible to apply under the current selection process, despite the urgency of enabling alternative CO2 transport routes.
The East Coast Cluster is being developed through the Northern Endurance Partnership, a joint venture between bp, Equinor and TotalEnergies. The partnership is responsible for building shared infrastructure to transport captured CO2 from industrial sites across Teesside and the Humber to the Endurance aquifer.
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