Spotlight on the latest decarbonised gas innovations – Part 3 Carbon capture, usage and storage

Alternative carbon capture technologies

The UK has committed more than £22 billion to support eight major CCS projects across the country, primarily focused on amine-based carbon capture systems attached to large industrial facilities. A prominent example is Net Zero Teesside Power, which aims to become the world's first gas-fired power station equipped with carbon capture technology.

While amine-based capture remains the dominant technology today, innovators are developing a new generation of carbon capture solutions that could significantly reduce costs, energy consumption and infrastructure requirements.

One example is Immaterial's monolithic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), supported through the UK Government's CCUS Innovation 2.0 programme. MOFs are highly porous materials containing microscopic cavities that selectively trap carbon dioxide molecules as industrial gases pass through them. Unlike conventional amine systems, which require large quantities of heat to regenerate solvents, MOFs can capture and release carbon dioxide using significantly less energy. Their compact footprint and modular design could make carbon capture viable for smaller industrial sites and commercial buildings where traditional systems would be impractical.

The potential of MOF technology is also reflected in projects such as Promethean Particles' MONET programme and the University of Sheffield's UNICORN project, both of which are developing advanced MOF-based carbon capture systems capable of removing carbon dioxide more efficiently while reducing operational costs.

Innovations such as these could substantially widen access to carbon capture technologies. While large-scale amine systems may remain best suited to major industrial emitters, next-generation capture materials could enable carbon reduction across a much broader range of facilities, helping capture a greater proportion of the UK's overall emissions.

Carbon utilisation and the circular carbon economy

Increasingly, innovators are not only focused on capturing carbon dioxide but also finding productive uses for it.

Several projects supported through the Accelerating CCS Technologies (ACT-3) programme, which funds international collaborative CCUS research and innovation projects, are exploring how captured carbon can be transformed into valuable products. The CoCaCo2La project has developed advanced electrolysis technology using nano-structured copper catalysts to convert captured carbon dioxide into higher-value chemicals such as ethylene, a key feedstock used throughout the chemicals industry. Meanwhile, the CooCE project is investigating how biotechnology can convert carbon dioxide streams into biofuels, energy storage products and precursor chemicals used in bioplastics manufacturing.

The UK's CCUS Innovation 2.0 programme has similarly supported projects that integrate carbon capture into industrial processes. CCm Technologies, for example, is developing methods to utilise captured carbon dioxide during low-carbon fertiliser production, while Vateris is exploring technologies that permanently mineralise captured carbon within concrete.

Together, these innovations represent a shift from viewing carbon dioxide solely as a waste product towards treating it as a valuable industrial resource. If successfully commercialised, carbon utilisation technologies could help create new revenue streams that improve the economic viability of carbon capture while supporting the development of a circular carbon economy.

Carbon storage and monitoring

Alongside advances in capture and utilisation, significant innovation is also taking place within carbon transportation and storage.

While the current Government has raised concerns about the achievability of previous storage targets, projects such as Northern Lights – a subsea liquified CO2 storage facility jointly developed by Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies – demonstrate the potential for repurposing offshore energy expertise and infrastructure to support long-term carbon storage. Following its first successful carbon dioxide injection, Northern Lights has become an important proof point for the emerging international carbon storage market.

The North Sea Transition Authority has continued to support sector development through its carbon storage licensing programme, with projects such as HyNet and Endurance helping establish the UK's future storage capacity.

However, successful carbon storage requires more than simply injecting carbon dioxide underground. Long-term monitoring, well integrity and risk management are essential to ensuring stored carbon remains safely contained for decades.

The ACT-3 programme's CEMENTEGRITY project is developing advanced wellbore cement systems designed to maintain their integrity under realistic subsurface conditions over the long durations required for carbon storage.

These innovations are helping build confidence in the long-term safety and scalability of carbon storage, supporting the development of a robust regulatory and commercial framework for future CCS deployment.

As carbon capture projects scale across the UK, high-quality data, measurement and monitoring will become increasingly important across the entire CCUS value chain. Accurate measurement of captured, transported, utilised and stored carbon dioxide will be essential for emissions accounting, regulatory compliance, commercial settlement and maintaining public confidence in the sector.

For more than 130 years, the UK has led the world in gas innovation. As the focus shifts towards decarbonising industry and energy systems, carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies are once again demonstrating how innovation can help unlock the transition to Net Zero 2050.

Get in touch

Learn more about CCUS and the role it can play in decarbonising the gas grid on our dedicated Carbon capture and storage pillar page.

If you have any feedback or questions on any of the above, please email us at decarbonisation@xoserve.com.

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