UK's Path to Net Zero: Review of Greenhouse Gas Removals for Clean Energy Transition
Key Ideas
- The UK government is committed to achieving net zero by 2050 through initiatives like the Clean Energy Superpower Mission.
- An independent review, led by Dr. Alan Whitehead CBE, will assess Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs) technologies like BECCS and DACCS to meet carbon budgets.
- The review will explore barriers, economic costs, and opportunities for GGR deployment at scale, including the production of energy and hydrogen.
- Government policies support the deployment of GGRs through negotiations with CCUS projects, expansion of clusters, and development of standards and business models.
The UK government's Clean Energy Superpower Mission aims to achieve net zero by 2050 and includes a focus on Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs) to support carbon budgets. An independent review commissioned by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) will evaluate GGR technologies such as Power Bio-energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) and Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS). Led by Dr. Alan Whitehead CBE, the review will assess the potential of GGRs in meeting the UK's Nationally Determined Contributions and carbon reduction targets. It will also consider barriers to deployment, economic costs, and opportunities for scaling up GGR technologies, including their role in hydrogen and energy production. The review will examine the transition to private investment, explore biomass sustainability, and analyze the role of GGRs in balancing emissions domestically and internationally.
The UK government has a policy program to support GGR deployment, including engagements with CCUS projects, expansion of clusters, and the development of standards and business models. Further initiatives include integrating GGRs into the Emissions Trading Scheme and consulting on strengthening the Voluntary Carbon Market. Dr. Whitehead's review will deliver a set of recommendations to the DESNZ Secretary of State in October 2025. The review is seen as a significant step in the UK's journey towards a cleaner and sustainable energy future.