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  4. HyNet North West CO2 Pipeline

On behalf of Eni and Progressive Energy Ltd, WSP led the successful Development Consent Order for the CO2 pipeline as part of the HyNet North West Industrial cluster project, including planning and consents strategy, environmental assessment, land services and stakeholder engagement. 

HyNet is one of the UK’s leading industrial decarbonisation projects. It’s creating new ways to power communities in the UK – creating new roles, safeguarding existing jobs, growing a skills base and attracting investment.

Locking away the CO2 emitted by heavy industry, the project will reduce the amount of CO2 emitted in the North West cluster region by a quarter.

The project will capture and transport CO2 from plants across the North West of England and North Wales through new and repurposed infrastructure, to safe and permanent storage in Eni’s depleted natural gas reservoirs in Liverpool Bay.

The pipeline itself will run from Ince, in Cheshire, to Point of Ayr gas terminal in Wales. It includes a new 36km CO2 pipeline and a repurposed 24km section of an existing underground onshore pipeline that is currently transporting natural gas.

Location

  • United Kingdom

Client

  • Eni | Progressive Energy Ltd

Project Status

  • DCO granted

Partners

  • Burges Salmon

Awards

  • Winner: Major Project of the Year at the National Infrastructure Planning Association Awards
million tonnes of CO2 per year will be captured in phase one
4.5
million tonnes of CO2 per year will be captured by 2030
10
reduction in CO2 emitted in the North West cluster area
25%
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A first-of-its-kind cross-border linear development consent order

The CO2 pipeline required planning consent through a Development Consent Order (DCO) application. We provided strategic consenting advice inclusive of infrastructure planning, land referencing, stakeholder engagement and environmental assessment. We submitted the DCO application on behalf our clients and then supported post-submission stages including examination. 

The HyNet CO2 pipeline was a complex linear DCO and one of the first carbon capture projects to go through the UK’s planning process. As the pipeline crosses England and Wales, it is also the first cross-border DCO. This meant additional Town and Country Planning (TCPA) applications were made to local authorities for Welsh components of the project alongside the DCO. This innovative twin-tracking approach was designed to avoid delays and reduce risk on the project.

Following the close of the examination in September 2023, planning consent was granted in March 2024. The approved DCO gives consent for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the CO2 pipeline. The project was recognised as Major Project of the Year at the National Infrastructure Planning Association (NIPA) awards in November 2024. 

Property owners were consulted as part of the engagement strategy
10,000+
Unique visits to the HyNet Hub during engagement
2,225
Events delivered as part of stakeholder engagement
15

Supporting planning and consenting on the hydrogen pipeline

A separate team within WSP is also providing planning and consents support to Cadent as part of the Hydrogen pipeline for HyNet North West. 

Wood Environment & Infrastructure (E&I) were appointed in October 2021 by Cadent to deliver the DCO application for the hydrogen network. WSP subsequently acquired Wood E&I in the summer of 2022. 

The original team is now part of WSP’s infrastructure planning and consents team and continues to work with Cadent on the DCO application. 

HyNet Award
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