The UK’s energy landscape is undergoing a historic transformation, and at the heart of it is Net Zero Teesside, a world-first commercial-scale gas-fired power station equipped with carbon capture technology. Located in the industrial powerhouse of Teesside, northeast England, this pioneering project will capture up to 2 million tonnes of CO₂ annually while generating enough clean electricity to power more than 1 million homes.
This initiative blends proven gas power generation with cutting-edge carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, designed to securely transport and store emissions beneath the North Sea. With construction scheduled to be completed by 2028, Net Zero Teesside is set to become a flagship project for the UK’s transition to clean energy and a model for industrial decarbonisation worldwide.
Landmark Project Overview
Driven by a joint venture between BP and Equinor, Net Zero Teesside Power forms the cornerstone of the wider East Coast Cluster, which connects multiple industrial facilities to shared carbon capture infrastructure. By building this integrated network, industries in Teesside can capture their greenhouse gases and store them permanently offshore. dramatically reducing local and national emissions.
Key Statistics at a Glance
- World’s first commercial gas power station with carbon capture
- CO₂ capture capacity: 2 million tonnes annually from power generation, plus additional industrial sources
- Electricity output: 742 megawatts – enough for 1 million homes
- Jobs created: 3,000 construction roles, 1,000 permanent operational positions
- Contract value: £4 billion awarded to major engineering firms
Purpose, Goals and National Significance
Teesside has long been one of England’s most carbon-intensive industrial zones, home to steelmaking, petrochemicals, and heavy manufacturing. Without intervention, these industries would continue releasing millions of tonnes of emissions each year. Net Zero Teesside aims to change that.
The project’s twin goals are:
- Generate reliable, low-carbon electricity that supports UK energy security.
- Create a replicable model of industrial decarbonisation without harming economic growth.
By integrating CCS directly into the power station, gas combustion emissions can be reduced by over 95%, allowing the site to operate as a dependable energy source while aligning with stringent climate targets.
Why Teesside?
Several factors make Teesside uniquely suitable for this transformation:
- Proximity to offshore storage sites: The Endurance saline aquifer under the North Sea offers vast, permanent CO₂ storage capacity.
- Established industrial base: Infrastructure and skilled labour already exist for heavy engineering projects.
- Cluster synergy: The East Coast Cluster allows industries to share costly CCS infrastructure, reducing overall expense.
- Political and community support: Local authorities and residents recognise the importance of sustained industrial employment alongside environmental protection.
The Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) will oversee the transport and storage network, using a 145km offshore pipeline to carry CO₂ from Teesside to secure underground formations.
Power Plant Technology in Detail
The Net Zero Teesside Power plant will use GE Vernova combined cycle gas turbines, integrated with CCS systems engineered by Technip Energies. Shell Catalysts & Technologies will provide process solutions to optimise CO₂ capture efficiency.
Technology Components
- Combined cycle gas turbines: Efficiently turn natural gas into electricity
- Post-combustion carbon capture: Removes CO₂ from flue gas after fuel is burned
- Compression systems: Liquefy CO₂ for pipeline transport
- Integration systems: Seamlessly connect turbines to CCS operations
Unlike wind or solar, gas-fired dispatchable power can rapidly respond to demand fluctuations, critical for keeping the UK grid stable.
Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage (CCUS)
Carbon capture at Net Zero Teesside uses chemical solvents to absorb CO₂ from exhaust gases, regenerating them for reuse in a closed-loop process. The resulting concentrated CO₂ is compressed and pumped to offshore injection sites.
CO₂ Capture Volumes
- NZT Power: 2 million+ tonnes annually
- Hydrogen projects (H₂Teesside): 1 million tonnes annually
- Other industries: Additional millions of tonnes from steel and chemical plants
Capturing 4 million tonnes total per year is equivalent to removing approximately 2 million cars from UK roads.
Transportation and Storage Infrastructure
The CCS network begins with onshore collection from multiple industrial sources. CO₂ then travels via the NEP’s offshore pipeline to the Endurance saline aquifer, situated 1,000 metres beneath the seabed.
Storage systems include:
- Injection wells for depositing CO₂ deep underground
- Monitoring equipment to ensure stability and detect anomalies
- Safety protocols backed by global CCS best practice
Given the scale, the aquifer can store millions of tonnes of CO₂ for centuries.
Strategic Partnerships and Supply Chains
Net Zero Teesside’s delivery depends on extensive collaboration:
- BP and Equinor: Joint venture owners, combining generation and CCS expertise
- Northern Endurance Partnership: Oversees CO₂ transport and offshore storage
- Technip Energies, GE Vernova, Shell: Provide core plant and capture technologies
- Balfour Beatty, Costain: Handle civil engineering and infrastructure construction
- Specialist pipeline fabricators such as Marubeni-Itochu and Corinth Pipeworks supply critical materials
These relationships create a robust, multi-tier supply chain anchored in both UK capability and international expertise.
Government Support and Regulatory Milestones
The UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has given Net Zero Teesside premier project status, granting access to the £1 billion Carbon Capture and Storage Infrastructure Fund.
Key dates:
- July 2021: Application submitted
- Feb 2024: Development Consent Order granted
- Dec 2024: Financial close achieved
- 2025–2028: Construction and commissioning
Innovative Contracts for Difference (CfD) arrangements tailored to CCS projects give the plant long-term revenue certainty and investor reassurance.
Economic and Social Impact
Job Creation
- 3,000+ construction jobs during the build phase
- 1,000 permanent operational roles after commissioning
Skills Development
Teesside colleges and universities will launch new training programmes in CCS engineering, sustainable energy, and environmental monitoring. Apprenticeships will embed green skills into the workforce.
Regional Benefits
- Spending in local supply chains and services
- Attraction of new low-carbon industries under Teesside Freeport
- Secured competitiveness for existing heavy industries through emission reductions
Contribution to the UK’s Net Zero Goals
Net Zero Teesside is integral to meeting the UK’s Clean Power 2030 targets and the 2050 net zero goal. It bridges the gap between the reliability of fossil-derived power and the environmental imperative for deep decarbonisation.
By proving that carbon-intensive industries can operate without high emissions, the project sets a precedent for similar industrial clusters across the UK and internationally.
Join the Workforce Driving Carbon Capture Innovation
At Worldwide Recruitment Solutions (WRS), we connect skilled professionals to groundbreaking clean energy projects like Net Zero Teesside. This is your chance to be part of a world-first, game-changing initiative that merges engineering excellence with environmental responsibility.
Whether your expertise lies in engineering, project management, operations, or technical maintenance, joining Net Zero Teesside means contributing directly to one of the UK’s most ambitious climate projects.
Explore our latest job opportunities or submit your CV to our specialist energy recruitment team. You can also contact our team to discuss how your skills fit the demands of the UK’s clean power revolution.
Frequently Asked Questions About Net Zero Teesside
The Net Zero Teesside project pioneers advanced carbon capture and storage technology while fostering industrial partnerships, creating thousands of jobs, and supporting the UK’s climate ambitions through innovative CO₂ management solutions.
What is the Net Zero Teesside project?
Net Zero Teesside is the UK’s first major industrial decarbonisation initiative, aiming to establish the world’s first commercial-scale decarbonised industrial cluster. It involves capturing carbon emissions from power generation and nearby industries, then transporting and storing this CO₂ underground beneath the North Sea, in the Endurance saline aquifer. This initiative is vital for achieving the UK’s legally binding net-zero by 2050 target while maintaining economic growth in the Teesside region.
Learn more from the official project site: Net Zero Teesside
UK Government clean energy strategy: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Who is the sponsor and developer of Net Zero Teesside?
The project is owned by OGCI Climate Investments LLP, a collaboration of leading energy companies under the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative. It is developed by a consortium led by BP, Eni, Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, with BP acting as the operating company for the power station.
This consortium combines decades of expertise in energy production, carbon capture technology, and offshore infrastructure to deliver the project.
For consortium details and OGCI’s role: OGCI Climate Investments – Net Zero Teesside
BP’s project overview: BP – Net Zero Teesside Power
How much is Net Zero Teesside worth?
Net Zero Teesside represents a multi-billion-pound investment in UK clean energy infrastructure. The combined project financing is approximately £8 billion, covering both the Net Zero Teesside Power plant and the affiliated Northern Endurance Partnership CO₂ transport and storage system.
Construction contracts for engineering, procurement, and development have reached around £4 billion alone. A significant contract for the power generation and carbon capture compression unit was awarded at £833 million.
Official engineering and contract updates:
- Technip Energies and GE Vernova major contract: GE Vernova Press Release
- UK Government infrastructure funding: CCS Infrastructure Fund
Who are the main investors and partners in Net Zero Teesside?
The project is developed by an industrial consortium comprising:
Early project development and commercialisation were supported by OGCI Climate Investments, which pools resources from leading oil and gas companies to fund low-carbon technologies.
The UK Government also provides financial backing through initiatives such as the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund and the Clean Growth Strategy, assisting with carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) infrastructure development.
More on investors and government support:
- OGCI official announcement: OGCI Investment in Net Zero Teesside
- UK government CCUS programmes: UK CCUS Overview
