Synergia Energy has been awarded a license under the North Sea Transition Authority’s first carbon storage licensing round, viewed as an important step for the company’s Medway Hub carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.

The CS01_2022_APP25 (Camelot) license application was made in collaboration with its partner, Wintershall Dea. A pre-FEED study conducted by Axis Well Technology has also confirmed the project’s technical viability.

The Medway Hub CCS project – operated by Synergia – consists of capturing and transporting CO2 emissions from coastal combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power stations in liquid form by marine tanker to a floating injection, storage and offloading (FISO) vessel. The CO2 would then be injected into depleted gas fields and saline aquifers located on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) for permanent sequestration.

Through the project, three CCGT power stations on the Isle of Grain will be catered for, with CO2 being extracted from the exhaust streams of the Medway, Damhead and Grain facilities. The liquid CO2 will then be transported using tankers to Esmond and Forbes depleted gas fields for storage.

The carbon storage license also features a work program and an appraisal which will see seismic re-processing, technical evaluations and a risk assessment being conducted. A FEED study leading to a potential license application in 2028 will also be carried out following a final investment decision.

Synergia estimates that the first CO2 injection will take place in 2032.

“The company has been working closely with Wintershall Dea over the last 12 months to develop the Medway Hub CCS project and prepare the carbon storage license applications,” said Roland Wessel, chief executive officer, Synergia. “Synergia is delighted to have Wintershall Dea as partners in the Medway Hub CCS project given Wintershall Dea’s significant involvement in CCS projects in Norway and Denmark.”