UK Government Could Miss 2030 Carbon Capture Target

16th September 2024

The National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) may fail to meet its 2030 carbon capture target. Carbon capture and storage (CCUS), a key component of the Government's strategy to achieve the UK’s net zero goal by 2050, involves trapping carbon emissions and storing them underground. This technology is considered essential for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors like cement production, but it remains in its early stages, and doubts persist about the long-term effectiveness of carbon storage.

DESNZ’s current CCUS strategy aims to establish the technology in four industrial clusters, capturing and storing 20 to 30 million tonnes of carbon annually by 2030. However, the NAO report highlighted a “significant risk” that the department may miss its interim target of capturing five million tonnes per year through engineered removals. The NAO stressed that success in this programme is "critical" for meeting the UK's 2050 net zero target, as no "credible alternative" exists without CCUS.

The Government has stated it is taking immediate steps to deliver its clean energy plan by 2030 while continuing to develop innovative technologies like CCUS, which the NAO acknowledges as vital for decarbonising the economy. However, the report noted that DESNZ is operating in a “high-risk environment” due to the challenges of implementing first-of-a-kind projects. This includes the risks of project failure, high upfront costs, and potential obsolescence, which must be managed in light of the long-term benefits the Government expects from CCUS.

The NAO also emphasised that the financial scale of the CCUS programme will make it one of the Government’s largest projects, requiring close oversight from HM Treasury to manage the associated financial risks. A DESNZ spokesperson reiterated the importance of CCUS, calling it essential for enhancing the UK’s energy independence and achieving climate goals. They noted that the first cluster projects are approaching key investment decisions, which are expected to generate jobs and attract billions in public and private investment to the UK’s industrial regions.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It was established on 7 February 2023 by a cabinet reshuffle under the Rishi Sunak premiership. The new department took on the energy policy responsibilities of the former Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The department's first Secretary of State was Grant Shapps; he was previously the final Secretary of State at BEIS. The current secretary is Ed Miliband. The department is scrutinised by the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee.

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