RWE to develop UK carbon capture projects

Within the plan, RWE is developing proposals to deploy capture technology at its Pembroke CCGT Power Station that would enable the long-term generation of up to 2.2GW and up to 5Mt/year of CO2 capture.

The company said it considers carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a viable solution for delivering decarbonised, reliable, and dispatchable power generation, whilst supporting the UK’s target of decarbonising its power system by 2035.  

In a statement, Tom Glover, UK country chair for RWE, commented: “In order to decarbonise the power sector, support security of supply and enable large scale industrial decarbonisation, it is important that clean gas generation projects are developed. Carbon capture can support the expansion of the other renewable and low carbon technologies…by providing energy security through firm and flexible provision of electricity that is not reliant on weather. I am pleased to announce our plans for three UK carbon capture projects, representing an important step in our progression towards decarbonising our existing gas fleet.”

The project is a key part of RWE’s Pembroke Net Zero Centre (PNZC), a multi-technology decarbonisation initiative in South Wales, which supports the broader decarbonisation of the region’s industry as part of the South Wales Industrial Cluster. The PNZC brings together the decarbonisation of the gas-fired Pembroke Power Station: the production of green hydrogen on site, and the development of floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea.

RWE is currently progressing with initial environmental studies and surveys and is preparing information to apply to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Track 2 Phase 2 cluster sequencing funding application process, which is dedicated to carbon capture projects that are located close to carbon capture storage or transport facilities.

In addition to Pembroke, the other projects are at RWE’s existing station at Staythorpe and a new-build gas-fired power station with carbon capture at Stallingborough. All three are close to proposed CO2 networks or have access to shipping facilities, which would enable the CO2 to be transported and stored.