Industrial Carbon Capture and Storage Network Powers Ahead with Addition of Sembcorp

Teesside Collective today announced the addition of a major industrial player to the group of companies working to create Europe’s first Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) equipped industrial zone.
– Industrial energy and water services provider Sembcorp Utilities UK joins leading industrial Carbon Capture and Storage scheme.

– Project team strengthened with appointment of Belinda Perriman as Commercialisation Manager.

Sembcorp Utilities UK, which provides energy and water services to customers at the Wilton International site on Teesside, has become the latest member of the project, alongside BOC, Lotte Chemical UK and GrowHow. The first phase of the scheme could be up and running by 2024.

The news comes at an opportune time for Teesside Collective which published its ‘Blueprint for Industrial CCS in the UK’ in July, receiving widespread support among industry, environmental groups and in government. The loss in October of the SSI steelworks in Redcar, previously part of the project, was sad news for the local community. Today’s news demonstrates the resilience of Teesside Collective and the group’s determination to move forward.

Sembcorp Utilities UK is the power provider at the Wilton International site serving major companies in the petrochemical, chemical and biofuels sectors. The company employs around 160 people at Wilton and has spent around £200 million improving and developing existing and new assets at the site. The company also owns much of the industrial development land at the site. Sembcorp’s current operations on Teesside emit around 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

Scott Taylor, Assistant Vice President, Business Development, Sembcorp Utilities UK, said:

“We are delighted to increase our commitment to the Teesside Collective by formally joining the consortium. A large scale carbon capture and storage initiative would make a step change in emissions reductions and could act as a magnet to further investment in the area.”

Teesside Collective is also pleased to announce the appointment of Belinda Perriman as Commercialisation Manager, bringing significant experience of CCS and major project development to the team. Belinda was previously the Shell lead on the Peterhead CCS Project in the early (pre-FEED) stages of the project. She will be working to bring on board other energy intensive plants in Teesside and with government departments and in Europe to secure support to take the project forward.

Belinda Perriman said:

“Teesside Collective is exactly that, a collective. We welcome Sembcorp as an important new partner in the drive to dramatically reduce emissions from Teesside whist supporting their contribution to the UK economy. We will continue to develop CCS options, both for Teesside and with an eye on encouraging future industrial CCS clusters in the UK.”

“I’m looking forward to harnessing the growing support in Teesside and at the national level to realise the project’s significant potential for the UK’s industrial and environmental goals.”

Neil Kenley, Director of Business Investment at Tees Valley Unlimited, said:

“Tees Valley has been hit hard by the closure of the SSI plant in Redcar. However the addition of SembCorp to the Teesside Collective initiative is very welcome. The company’s commitment to the area is well known and I hope further plants will follow their example.

“Belinda Perriman’s expertise will strengthen our ability to build the commercial partnerships we need with industry and funders. Her strategic vision and experience of CCS and major projects are going to be invaluable.”