FAQs

HyNet represents a collection of world-leading organisations coming together to build a game-changing energy network, which aims to reduce carbon emissions from industry, and support economic growth in the north west of England and north Wales in the UK’s challenge to meet net zero carbon emissions.

Carbon capture, transport and storage to serve the wider HyNet Project, is being developed by Liverpool Bay CCS Limited, a member of the Eni SpA group, with the potential to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from industry by up to 10 million tonnes every year by the 2030s – the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road.

HyNet’s aims and principles for the transportation and storage of CO₂ have been backed by the UK Government’s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), highlighted by the government’s announcement in October 2024 of £21.7 billion funding in support of carbon capture clusters in the UK, including HyNet.

HyNet will also deliver a low carbon hydrogen network that will produce, store and distribute hydrogen to decarbonise the north west of England and north Wales. More information on the wider HyNet Project can be found here.

Liverpool Bay CCS Limited (LBCCS), a member of the Eni SpA group, is the applicant for the CO₂ transportation and storage (T&S) infrastructure to serve the HyNet Project. LBCCS will be responsible for the development, construction and operation of the HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline which was awarded development consent in March 2024. LBCCS is also responsible for the development of the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments, which link hard-to-abate industry to the HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline and on to secure storage sites in depleted offshore natural gas reservoirs underneath Liverpool Bay.

Depleted gas reservoirs have held natural gas for geological time which makes them an excellent solution for CCS. As the owner and operator of the Liverpool Bay gas reservoirs, Eni UK has managed the reservoirs for many years. Our expertise in this field makes us the best placed partner to lead the CO₂ transportation and storage project for the HyNet Cluster.

Reusing existing natural gas infrastructure for CO₂ transport and storage minimises the capital cost of HyNet. Typically, operators and Government both share the costs of decommissioning oil and gas assets. By repurposing the depleted gas reservoirs, HyNet negates the need to decommission them, significantly reducing the burden on UK taxpayers.

The proximity within the North West to sites for CO₂ storage means this is the lowest-cost CCS solution in the UK.

You can find out more about the overall HyNet Project by visiting: www.hynet.co.uk or following HyNet on its social media channels:

• hynet_nw on Instagram
• HyNet North West on Facebook
• @HyNetNW on X
• HyNet on LinkedIn

Several CCS projects are currently in development in the UK. The Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments are part of the UK Government’s Track 1 cluster of CCS projects announced in October 2021, which aims to deploy CCS in a minimum of two industrial clusters by the mid-2020s. A Track 2 cluster was announced in March 2023. Click here to find out more about the Track 1 industry cluster.

As part of the HyNet Project delivery of a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) system to decarbonise the north west of England and north Wales, the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments will provide three routes for CO₂ to be safely transported between approved industrial capture sites and the CO₂ storage facilities in Liverpool Bay.

CO₂ emissions from the industry cluster across the north west of England and north Wales need to be transported safely to the CCS storage sites underneath Liverpool Bay. It is important that we transfer the captured CO₂ to the storage sites in a safe and reliable way. This requires substantial infrastructure that can safely contain CO₂ and withstand the environment in which it is placed.

The HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline, which was granted development consent in March 2024, will run from Ince in the north west of England to join with an existing pipeline just outside Flint in north Wales, which will be repurposed to transport CO₂ to the Point of Ayr Terminal and then onwards to the storage sites up to 1km under the seabed in Liverpool Bay. These storage sites have previously held natural gas for millions of years and will be repurposed to safely store the CO₂ from industrial emitters as part of the HyNet Project.

To transport the CO₂ captured from industrial emitters across the region the spur pipelines are required to connect these capture plants within the wider HyNet Industrial Decarbonisation Cluster to the HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline. To achieve this, three spur pipelines will be required which will connect capture plants into the Above Ground Installations (AGIs) located on the HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline and consented within the HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline Development Consent Order (DCO).

These additional spur pipelines are not considered within the current HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline DCO application and will be considered for planning permission separately under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

These three Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments are outlined below.

1. The Protos (West AGI) Spur Pipeline Proposed Development, connecting the Encyclis Protos ERF to the Ince AGI.
2. The Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Development, connecting the Heidelberg Materials UK cement works at Padeswood to the Northop Hall AGI.
3. The Runcorn Spur Pipeline Proposed Development, connecting the Viridor Energy from Waste facility to the Ince AGI.

The gas reservoirs in Liverpool Bay are now depleted and oil and gas production has ceased. The reservoirs are uniquely placed close to the industrial heartland of the north west of England and north Wales to make them the ideal storage site for the HyNet Cluster. The gas fields beneath Liverpool Bay provide safe, long-term CO₂ storage for up to 25 years. 

The HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline, which was granted development consent in March 2024, will run from Ince in the North West of England to join with an existing pipeline just outside Flint in North Wales. This existing pipeline will be repurposed to transport CO₂ to the Point of Ayr Terminal and then onwards to the storage sites situated offshore and up to 1km under the seabed in Liverpool Bay. These storage sites have previously held natural gas for millions of years and will be repurposed to safely store the CO₂ from industrial emitters as part of the wider HyNet Cluster.

To transport the CO₂ captured from industrial emitters to the storage sites in Liverpool Bay, the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments are required to connect these emitters to the main HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline. To achieve this, three spur pipelines will connect industrial capture plants into the AGIs located on the HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline.

You can read more information on the Liverpool Bay CO₂ transportation and storage project here.

Each of the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments will seek planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

Specifically:

• To gain consent to build the Protos (West AGI) Spur Pipeline Proposed Development, Liverpool Bay CCS Limited (the Applicant) is preparing a planning application, which will be submitted as a Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) application to Cheshire West and Chester Council in Spring 2025. This is in place of the previous planning application that was prepared and submitted for Protos (East AGI) Spur Pipeline Proposed Development on 4 March 2024 (Reference 24/00777/ FUL).
• To gain consent to build the Runcorn Spur Pipeline Proposed Development, Liverpool Bay CCS Limited (the Applicant) will prepare planning applications, which will be submitted as Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) applications to Cheshire West and Chester Council and Halton Borough Council in Summer 2025.
• To gain consent to build the Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Development, Liverpool Bay CCS Limited (the Applicant) will prepare a planning application, which will be submitted as a Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) application to Flintshire County Council in Summer 2025.

If a development is considered a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), it undergoes the process set out under Planning Act 2008 – all other planning applications undergo the process set out under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) (TCPA 1990). As the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments are not considered NSIPs, the Local Councils (Flintshire County Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Halton Borough Council) will assess the planning applications and determine a decision against the criteria of the TCPA 1990.

The HyNet Carbon Dioxide Pipeline is classified as an NSIP and was granted a DCO by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on 20 March 2024.

We are currently preparing planning applications for each of the Protos (West AGI), Runcorn and Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments. As part of preparing these applications, we will engage with stakeholders and the community to gather feedback to help shape and finalise the designs.

This process will include conducting surveys and completing our assessment of the potential environmental impacts of the scheme.

Other parts of the wider HyNet Project are also going through separate planning applications and consenting processes, and you can find out about the other projects at https://hynet.co.uk.

• For Protos (West AGI) Spur Pipeline Proposed Development, Liverpool Bay CCS Limited (the Applicant) plans to submit a Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) application to Cheshire West and Chester Council in Spring 2025.
• For Runcorn Spur Pipeline Proposed Development, the Liverpool Bay CCS Limited (the Applicant) plans to submit Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) applications to Cheshire West and Chester Council and Halton Borough Council application in Summer 2025.
• For Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Development, Liverpool Bay CCS (the Applicant) plans to submit a Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) application to Flintshire County Council in Summer 2025.

Detailed information on the project and updates on our progress can be found on our website www.hynethub.co.uk. You may also like to receive our regular newsletter, which features the latest information on the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments. Sign up for the newsletter by clicking here.

We are currently carrying out early engagement with stakeholders and the local community on the Runcorn and Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments. The consultation periods for the Runcorn and Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments are below:

• Runcorn Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments: 13 March - 10 April 2025
• Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments: 26 March - 29 April 2025

As the project develops, we will add further information to the HyNet Hub.

We are committed to making project information accessible to all users. If you have any specific project questions, or suggestions regarding the accessibility of this site, please email us on hello@hynethub.co.uk.

If you have any questions or comments, please email us on hello@hynethub.co.uk.

To gain consent to build the Protos (West AGI) Spur Pipeline Proposed Development, Liverpool Bay CCS Limited (the Applicant) is preparing a planning application, which will be submitted as a Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) application to Cheshire West and Chester Council in Spring 2025. This is following the previous planning application that was prepared and submitted for Protos (East AGI) Spur Pipeline Proposed Development on 4 March 2024 (Reference 24/00777/ FUL).

Liverpool Bay CCS Limited is also now preparing planning applications to gain consent to build the Runcorn and Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments. You can read high-level information about both spur pipelines, including a broad pipeline corridor route, on the HyNet Hub. More detailed proposals for both will be shared during their consultation periods in Spring 2025.

The consultation periods for the Runcorn and Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments are below:

• Runcorn Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments: 13 March - 10 April 2025
• Padeswood Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments: 26 March - 29 April 2025

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Once the consultation period is over, we will gather the feedback we have received about the project from local people and stakeholders and this information will be documented and taken into account for the final planning application. We will make a summary of that feedback available in a consultation report which will be published on the HyNet Hub website, so that you can see what you told us, and understand in greater detail how we are taking that information on board.

To register for up-to-date news and information about the consultation and the project, please email us on: hello@hynethub.co.uk.

Yes. We know that the people who live and work in the local area are critical to the success of this project, and we want to start an ongoing conversation with you, working together to shape a scheme that best fits the needs of local communities.

Your views are very important for helping us to shape the proposals that we will submit as part of our planning application.

We will promote the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments across multiple platforms to ensure that you have the opportunity to have your say. If you would like to receive project updates, including notifications about the consultation, please sign up for the HyNet newsletter here.

Our proposals will help support thousands of new jobs in the north west of England and north Wales and will secure the long-term future of existing jobs. There will also be greater career opportunities for local people, tapping into the area’s blend of industrial experience and scientific expertise, which together will create a hotspot for innovation and growth.

To maximise the benefit to local communities, we will continue to work with local suppliers where possible. Our procurement processes will consider suppliers with strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings to ensure that the design and construction of the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments have minimal environmental and community impact.

The benefits for the local community include:

• Educational experiences for young people
• Work experience for those considering their options
• Apprenticeships and career opportunities
• Community funding for environmental, health and educational initiatives
• Volunteering from the project team to help local initiatives

We will provide further information on the Community Benefit Fund, including how local groups and organisations can apply, soon.

We will minimise disruption as much as possible. We will work closely with the relevant local planning authority to agree hours of work during construction, and with the highway authority to ensure the safety of road users. Some locations where trenchless crossings are being carried out will require working 24 hours a day, but this will be for short periods.

To begin rapid decarbonisation, HyNet is focused on working quickly to reduce harmful carbon emissions from local industry and clean up air quality in the region using CCS.

CCS is a safe and proven technology that captures CO₂ where it is being produced and locks it away, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere, where it is a major contributor to climate change.

Liverpool Bay CCS Limited will safely transport CO₂ emissions directly captured from energy-intensive industries, via a pipeline and store these emissions securely in depleted oil and gas reservoirs under the seabed in Liverpool Bay. These technologies have the potential to reduce CO₂ emissions by 10 million tonnes every year by the 2030s – the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road.

As part of the wider HyNet Project, we conducted a detailed payback calculation to determine the time required for the carbon dioxide emissions generated during the project’s delivery to be offset by its operation. We found that if HyNet stores 10 million tonnes of carbon annually, the emissions from the project’s delivery would be offset in four days of operation.

We have a dedicated landowner engagement team and work is already underway to engage with landowners potentially impacted by the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments.

A key activity in commencing the design for the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments is undertaking a variety of surveys across all potential spur pipeline routes. To do this, we need access to land within the proposed area. We began conversations early in 2024 with landowners and occupiers to explain the project and request permission for access to carry out these surveys.

There will be some pieces of land that will be required to host sections of spur pipelines to successfully deliver the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments. As the optioneering process defines a proposed route, we are working to reach voluntary land agreements with owners of identified land within these defined areas.

Everyone will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments through the public consultation in Spring 2025 before we apply for planning permission.

Oil and gas operators are used to ensuring the highest safety standards in their operations. The transition to CCS will be approached in the same way. Any CCS project, its infrastructure and operation will be strictly regulated by the UK Government.

Throughout all the phases of operation, CO₂ transportation, injection and its safe containment within the reservoir will be carefully monitored using state of the art techniques (including but not limited to geophysical surveys, pressure sensors, seabed surveys and dedicated monitoring wells).

The proposed spur pipelines are designed and will be operated and maintained in compliance with well-established standards and industry best practices, which together with detailed safety assessments will ensure the potential for any leakage of CO₂ is minimised and risks are acceptable. The pipeline network will be fitted with leak detection systems and in the event of any leakage the pipeline can be safely shut in.

Liverpool Bay CCS Limited is actively engaging with the UK Health and Safety Executive (the UK Safety Regulator, including for pipelines) to ensure that the pipeline development and its operation are compliant with all relevant regulations and guidance.

Gas has remained safely trapped in geological structures such as sandstone reservoirs, like the ones in Liverpool Bay, for millions of years. These reservoirs are deep below the surface of the seabed. The Liverpool Bay CO₂ store will be up to 1km below the seabed and approximately 20 miles offshore. Hundreds of metres of shale lie over the top of these sandstone reservoirs, making an impermeable layer which traps the gas in place. The CO₂ will be stored in the same way as the original natural gas. It will remain safely contained in the sandstone reservoirs.

For more information about safety please click here to read our Safety factsheet.

Our timeline for delivery relies entirely on consent to develop the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments from the local authorities. The application process is complicated, and we will engage with stakeholders and the community before we submit our application.

Once consent is granted, we intend to begin construction straight away – and expect this to be between 2026 and 2028. We do not yet know how long this will take, as it is dependent on the specific design we progress, although we will keep local communities informed throughout the process.

Subject to approvals from DESNZ, it is expected that, starting from 2027, Liverpool Bay CCS Limited’s CO₂ Transportation and Storage system to serve the HyNet Cluster will have a capacity of 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ per year in the first phase, with the potential to increase up to 10 million tonnes of CO₂ per year after 2030.

If you would like to receive updates about the scheme’s progress, please email us at hello@hynethub.co.uk.

Surveys are currently underway to test the makeup of the land and level of contamination within the Spur Pipeline Proposed Development’s red line boundaries. These surveys will inform the route of the Spur Pipeline Proposed Developments and whether any mitigation measures are required.

These surveys will be included and summarised within the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which will form a key part of the future planning applications. Once the applications have been submitted to the relevant council for consideration, the EIA will be available for all to view, and comments can be submitted as part of the planning process.