What do we need to know to safely store CO2 beneath our shelf seas? Reports published

This Sprint research project has now concluded, with the team so far producing three major outputs addressing CO₂ storage beneath shelf seas. In Rickaby et al’s pre-print paper “Interactions of CO₂ with Sedimentary Blue Carbon: The Fate of Leaked CO₂ from a Geological Storage Site”, the authors assess the potential for disruption of blue carbon stored in sediments, and interactions of leaked CO₂ with that sedimentary blue carbon above a sub-seafloor geological CO₂ storage site. 

The work which led to this paper is detailed in the Sprint’s research report Filling in evidence gaps for the safe deployment of offshore Geological Carbon Storage. In this report, the authors emphasise that CO₂ capture and storage is a necessity to stop global warming. To answer the question “What do we need to know to safely store CO₂ beneath our shelf seas?” the research team looked at the Endurance reservoir in the North Sea, which aims to begin storing carbon before 2030. This report contains key recommendations for industry and policy. 

And finally, the team have produced the policy brief Addressing regulatory challenges for offshore Geological Carbon Storage in the UK. In this brief, the authors address opportunities available to streamline legislation, regulation and policy surrounding access to CO₂ storage on the UK offshore continental shelf. 

To read more about the Sprint, or to get in touch with the team, visit the CO₂ Storage Sprint page.