The application involves a full chain carbon capture, utilisation and storage ('CCUS') project, comprising a CO2 gathering network, including CO2 pipeline connections from industrial facilities on Teesside to transport the captured CO2 (including the connections under the tidal River Tees); a combined cycle gas turbine ('CCGT') electricity generating station with an abated capacity circa 850 gigawatts output (gross), cooling water, gas and electricity grid connections and CO2 capture; a CO2 gathering/booster station to receive the captured CO2 from the gathering network and CCGT generating station; and the onshore section of a CO2 transport pipeline for the onward transport of the captured CO2 to a suitable offshore geological storage site in the North Sea.
The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by Net Zero Teesside Power Limited "NZT Power" and Net Zero North Sea Storage Limited "NZNS Storage" on 19 July 2021 and accepted for Examination on 16 August 2021.
Following an Examination during which the public, Statutory Consultees and Interested Parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on 10 February 2023.
This is the 131st Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project and 77th energy application to have been examined by The Planning Inspectorate within the timescales laid down in the Planning Act 2008.
The Planning Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Paul Morrison said:
"The Planning Inspectorate has now examined more than 100 nationally significant infrastructure projects since the Planning Act 2008 process was introduced, ensuring local communities have had the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them.
"Local people, the local authority and other interested parties were able to participate in this examination.
"The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to all local views and the evidence gathered during the Examination before making its recommendation to the Secretary of State."
The decision, the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and the evidence considered by the Examining Authority in reaching its recommendation are publicly available on the project pages of the National Infrastructure Planning website.
Journalists wanting further information should contact the Planning Inspectorate Press Office, on 0303 444 5004 or 0303 444 5005 or
