UK Green Energy Push, New CCUS Projects Create Thousands of Jobs in 2025

The UK’s carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) industry is entering a new phase of growth, with thousands of jobs set to be created in the coming years. Following the approval of two new priority projects under the HyNet carbon capture cluster, regions across North Wales and North West England are preparing for an employment boost of 800 additional skilled positions, taking the total supported by the HyNet network to 2,800 jobs.

This marks a significant milestone in the government’s clean energy strategy, which combines climate action with economic opportunity. As industries look for ways to cut emissions without sacrificing productivity, CCUS technologies are increasingly being recognized as a bridge to a sustainable energy future.

HyNet’s Role in Decarbonising UK Industry

At the heart of this expansion is HyNet, one of the UK’s leading CCUS projects. Spanning across Cheshire and Flintshire, HyNet will capture carbon dioxide from heavy industries, power plants, and hydrogen production sites before transporting it to secure offshore storage reservoirs in Liverpool Bay.

The project is designed to:

• Capture up to 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.
• Deliver the carbon equivalent of removing 2 million petrol and diesel cars from British roads.
• Produce enough low-carbon energy to power 900,000 homes.

Alongside environmental benefits, HyNet is also expected to deliver substantial economic returns. By 2050, the project could contribute as much as £5 billion annually to the UK economy through job creation, industrial competitiveness, and energy security.

Feature	Capacity / Impact
Annual CO₂ Storage Capacity	4.5 million tonnes
Equivalent Vehicles Removed	2 million cars
Homes Powered	900,000
Direct Jobs Supported	2,800
Estimated Annual Economic Value by 2050	£5 billion

Two New Priority Projects to Drive Growth

The latest government approval adds two new cornerstone facilities to the HyNet cluster:

1. Connah’s Quay Low Carbon Power (North Wales)

• A low-carbon backup electricity source for the national grid.
• Expected to provide energy to 900,000 homes at peak capacity.
• Designed to capture and securely store its own CO₂ emissions.

1. Ince Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (InBECCS) (Cheshire)

• The UK’s first bioenergy plant with CCS integration.
• Will process waste wood to generate electricity while capturing emissions.
• Expected to remove 217,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, making it one of the UK’s earliest large-scale negative-emissions projects.

Both projects represent a blend of innovation and practicality, proving that heavy industry and renewable innovation can work together to deliver real decarbonisation.

Standby Projects Ready for Future Expansion

Beyond the two newly approved sites, the government has also earmarked five standby projects that could be linked to the HyNet cluster in future phases. These include hydrogen plants, waste-to-energy facilities, and direct air capture technologies.

Project	Location	Technology
Silver Birch – Climeworks UK Ltd	Stanlow, Cheshire	Direct Air Capture
Essar Energy Transition ICC	Stanlow, Cheshire	Industrial Carbon Capture
Hydrogen Production Plant 2 (HPP2)	Stanlow, Cheshire	Hydrogen Production
Parc Adfer Energy from Waste ICC	Deeside, North Wales	Waste-to-Energy with CCS
Runcorn Carbon Capture Project	Runcorn, Cheshire	Industrial Carbon Capture

The flexibility of the HyNet network ensures that new projects can be integrated quickly, scaling capacity as the demand for clean energy and carbon reduction grows.

Employment and Skills: A Regional Boost

With 2,800 direct jobs confirmed and thousands more supported through supply chains, the expansion of HyNet is set to revitalise regional economies. Employment opportunities will span across:

• Engineering and construction during infrastructure development.
• Operations and maintenance for ongoing plant management.
• Local supply chains, including fabrication, logistics, and manufacturing.
• Research and innovation, particularly in hydrogen production and storage.

The UK’s CCUS industry overall is projected to support up to 50,000 jobs by the 2030s, positioning Britain as a global leader in clean energy employment.

A £21.7 Billion National Commitment

The HyNet expansion forms part of the UK government’s broader £21.7 billion investment in CCUS, with £9.4 billion allocated in this parliamentary term under the Plan for Change.

This plan aims to:

• Cut greenhouse gas emissions by tackling difficult-to-decarbonise industries.
• Secure domestic energy supply in the wake of global price volatility.
• Protect and create jobs in regions transitioning away from fossil fuels.

By embedding CCUS in its energy strategy, the UK is sending a clear signal that industrial decarbonisation is inseparable from economic renewal.

Strategic Benefits Beyond Jobs

The benefits of HyNet’s expansion extend well beyond immediate job creation:

• Energy Security: By combining carbon capture with hydrogen and bioenergy, HyNet reduces reliance on imported fuels.
• Global Competitiveness: The UK strengthens its standing as a hub for exportable CCUS technology and expertise.
• Climate Leadership: By achieving large-scale carbon reduction, the UK sets an example for other industrial economies.
• Innovation Ecosystem: Clusters like HyNet attract research partnerships, university collaborations, and start-up investments.

In short, the project combines economic pragmatism with climate responsibility.

Challenges Ahead: Delivering at Scale

While the progress is significant, experts caution that large-scale CCUS projects face challenges:

• Cost overruns and construction delays could slow deployment.
• Public acceptance will depend on transparent communication about storage safety.
• Policy consistency is essential to sustain investor confidence.

Nonetheless, with strong government backing and industry commitment, HyNet’s model is being closely watched as a blueprint for future CCUS rollouts.

The Global Context

Globally, CCUS is becoming an essential tool in the transition to net zero economies. Countries such as Norway, the US, and Canada are investing heavily in similar technologies, but the UK’s HyNet cluster is notable for its integration of multiple technologies—hydrogen, waste-to-energy, bioenergy, and direct air capture—within a single network.

If successful, the model could be replicated internationally, providing the UK with export opportunities in engineering, consultancy, and clean tech services.

5 FAQs About the HyNet Carbon Capture Expansion

Q1. What is the HyNet project?
HyNet is a UK carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) cluster based in Cheshire and Flintshire. It captures CO₂ from industry and stores it offshore in Liverpool Bay, while also producing low-carbon hydrogen and energy.

Q2. How many jobs will the expansion create?
The latest government approval adds 800 new jobs, bringing the total supported by HyNet to 2,800 direct jobs, with thousands more in the wider supply chain.

Q3. How much CO₂ will HyNet capture annually?
Once fully operational, HyNet will capture 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ per year, equivalent to removing 2 million petrol and diesel cars from UK roads.

Q4. What role does the government play in CCUS funding?
The UK government has pledged £21.7 billion for CCUS development, with £9.4 billion committed during this parliamentary term under its Plan for Change.

Q5. What are the economic benefits beyond jobs?
By 2050, HyNet is expected to generate £5 billion annually for the UK economy, strengthen energy security, and position the UK as a global leader in carbon capture technology.