£2 Billion UK-Italy Pact: Eni to Store CO₂ Beneath Irish Sea in Major CCS Project

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UK and Eni Seal Major Carbon Capture Deal to Store Emissions Under Irish Sea
The UK government and Italian energy firm Eni have finalized a landmark agreement to establish a carbon capture and storage (CCS) network beneath the Irish Sea, aiming to sequester millions of tonnes of CO₂ annually. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the deal at a London energy summit, highlighting its role in creating 2,000 jobs across north Wales and England’s North West through £2 billion ($2.6 billion) in supply chain contracts.

Project Scope and Climate Goals
Eni’s Liverpool Bay CCS project, now entering its construction phase after securing financial backing from the UK’s Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, plans to store 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ yearly by 2030, scaling up to 10 million tonnes thereafter—equivalent to emissions from four million cars.

The initiative aligns with Labour’s broader £22 billion, 25-year CCS strategy for northern industrial regions, targeting net-zero emissions by 2050.

Technology and Controversy
CCS technology captures industrial emissions from sectors like cement and steel, storing them underground. While endorsed by the IPCC for hard-to-decarbonize industries, critics argue the UK’s heavy investment in unproven CCS infrastructure risks diverting funds from renewable energy expansion.

A February parliamentary report warned of the “high-risk” reliance on nascent technologies to meet climate targets.

Global Context
Current global CO₂ capture capacity stands at 50.5 million tonnes annually—just 0.1% of total emissions—underscoring the scale of the challenge.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband framed the Eni project as a catalyst for “revitalizing industrial communities” through a “whole new clean energy industry”.: Prime Minister’s announcement on supply chain contracts and job creation.: Eni’s operational targets and partnership confirmation.: Labour’s long-term CCS funding commitment.: Environmental NGOs’ renewable energy priorities.: UK Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee risk assessment.: International Energy Agency’s global capture capacity data.: Miliband’s statement on industrial revitalization.