14 May 2024 – A new gas-fired power station which claims to be net zero has been approved by the government earlier this year. However, experts say the net zero Teesside Energy project will produce over 20m tonnes of carbon emissions over its lifetime.
Net Zero Teesside Power (NZT Power) promises to be the first decarbonised energy project in the UK. Generating an electrical output of 860 megawatts (MW) a year, it will be able to power up to 1.3m homes, its website states.
Through carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), the power station will prevent up to 95% of its carbon emissions from being released into the atmosphere. Hence, why it’s advertised as a net zero energy project.
However, experts who looked at the figures say that it won’t be net zero, as the Net Zero Teesside energy project will release over 20m tonnes of carbon emissions over its lifetime.
Carbon Capture Technology Efficency In Doubt
One issue with the Teesside project is that it relies on carbon capture and storage (CCS), which is a technology that is still in its early stages and scientists claim it’s not yet efficient enough.
CCS technology works by injecting the carbon emissions of the plant into an absorber, which contains a solvent. The solvent captures the carbon dioxide (CO2) from the emissions. Using heat, the CO2 is then separated from the solvent.
While the solvent can then be reused, the carbon dioxide is stored underground. The remaining emissions should be free of CO2. At least, that’s the theory.
In practice, this technology hasn’t been proven to be as efficient yet. Even the Teesside project only promises up to 95% of carbon dioxide to be removed and stored.
But scientists are sceptical that it will even reach this high target. Looking at other projects around the world that are already using this technology, the results aren’t promising.
A project run by Chevron in Australia aims at capturing 80% of carbon dioxide. It’s yet to reach this target. This led experts to doubt the efficiency of carbon capture and storage technology at this moment of time.
But that’s not the only issue experts have identified with the Teesside power project.
20m Tonnes Isn’t Net Zero
Energy analyst, Andrew Boswell, analysed the data provided by the Net Zero Teesside Energy project and concluded that it wouldn’t be net zero in any scenario.
Even if CSS levels of the gas power station would reach its target of 95%, which is doubtful, it would still emit 20.3m tonnes of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
When a project produces over 20m tonnes of carbon pollution, it is simply wrong, and misleading, to call it ‘net zero’.
Andrew Boswell, Energy Analyst
Net zero means that no more carbon emissions are released into the atmosphere. This means a project that claims to be net zero can’t at the same time emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
Mr Boswell arrived at his figure by calculating the emissions associated with an energy project like this, these are called “upstream emissions”. Other than the emissions produced during the actual production of the energy, other emissions have to be taken into account.
These include emissions from extracting the gas in the first place, refining it, so it can be used for energy production, transporting it to the power plant and the methane emissions from the gas.
Taken all these additional emissions into account, the analysis showed that the Net Zero Teesside energy project would produce over 20m tonnes of carbon emissions during its lifetime.
He submitted his evidence to the government. And even though the Deparment for Energy Sercurity and Net Zero acknowledged that the analysis was correct, they went ahead and approved the project.
Andrew Boswell, supported by green industrialist Dale Vince, has decided to take the government to court over the decision, asking for a judicial review.
Our Opinion
Given the evidence that Andrew Boswell has provided to the government, it seems shocking that the project has been given the go ahead. That is, until you realise that the project is backed by BP and Equinor, two big fossil fuel companies.
The fossil fuel industry is incredibly powerful, and they use their power and influence to stall progress on climate change action. The events during COP28 and the recent UN Talk on plastic pollution are just two recent examples.
And it’s clear why they are so keen on carbon capture and storage, as it allows them to continue business as usual, making obscene profits. The fact that the technology just isn’t good enough yet, doesn’t seem to bother them.
Carbon capture and storage technology is important though, as we will need it to decarbonise industry as a whole. However, it should only be used if emissions can’t be avoided any other way.
And this isn’t the case here. There is no need for another gas-fired station, especially one that claims to be net zero when it clearly isn’t. We need investment in renewable energy that is clean and cheap.
