New government-backed projects around the UK will advance cutting-edge research in cutting-edge technology to remove greenhouse emissions from the environment, helping to create new green jobs and position the UK at the forefront of this new industry, which may be worth billions to the UK economy.
The UK government announced today that a total of 15 projects from Edinburgh to Exeter, Swindon to Sheffield will partake in more than £54 million to explore technology that reduce carbon emissions in the environment (Friday 8 July).
The UK will be able to reach its carbon reduction targets thanks to this government support, which will also promote additional private investment in the country and the creation of new green jobs in these areas.
The funds will be used to support projects that will further develop their methods for removing greenhouse gases, such as a device that can extract carbon dioxide from the air, a facility that can turn waste from homes into hydrogen for use in the transportation sector, and a system that can extract carbon dioxide from seawater.
Greg Hands, a minister for energy and climate change, said:
This government investment of £54 million, which was made today, will aid in the development of a greenhouse gas abatement industry in the UK, which may be worth billions to our economy, attracting private capital, and fostering the creation of new green jobs.
Phase 2 of the Direct Air Capture and Greenhouse Gas Removal Technologies Competition provided the funds.
Total prize money for the competition is £60 million, of which £5.6 million was distributed to the 23 winners in phase one. 15 of them have advanced to phase two and will share in the £54.4 million announced today in order to develop their inventions, see their initiatives through to the demonstration stage, and move closer to the successful commercialization of their technologies.
Among the cutting-edge initiatives getting support right now are:
For a facility in Swindon that can turn gas from domestic garbage into low-carbon hydrogen for use in the transportation industry, Advanced Biofuel Solutions will get £4.75 million.
£2.9 million will be given to Mission Zero Technologies in London to help create a device that can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
In order to lower emissions from the livestock farming industry, SAC Commercial in Edinburgh will receive £2.9 million to develop technology that would trap methane emitted by cattle.
Nearly £3 million will be given to the University of Exeter to help them improve their “SeaCURE” system for removing carbon dioxide from saltwater.
Technology for greenhouse gas removal will be necessary to help the UK reach its 2050 goal of net-zero carbon emissions.
While the UK government is working hard to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and decarbonize the country, these technologies will be required to offset emissions from hard to decarbonize sectors including some of the agricultural and aviation industries.
The financing announcement made today will contribute to the development of a strong UK greenhouse gas removal sector.
As part of its efforts to advance the UK’s position as a leader in the field by promoting and encouraging investment in this emerging sector, the government this week also launched a consultation on greenhouse gas removal business models.
University of Exeter SeaCURE professor Paul Halloran stated:
In the fields of marine science and technology, the UK is a global leader in both academia and industry.
We are able to combine these factors thanks to the BEIS GGR initiative to provide a cutting-edge climate change solution that relies on the ocean’s inherent ability to absorb anthropogenic carbon.
Cambridge Carbon Capture CEO Michael Evans said:
Cambridge Carbon Capture Ltd. receives critical support from the BEIS GGR program, which awards us contracts that allow us to build the pilot plant and business plan required to draw more funding for scaling and commercializing our technology.
Black Bull Biochar’s co-founder and CEO, Alex Clarke, said:
Black Bull Biochar is catalyzed by the BEIS’s DAC & GGR initiative to create a mechanism that quickly scales greenhouse gas removal.
It enables us to unite business and agriculture on a ground-breaking platform that aids the UK in overcoming obstacles to the development and expansion of an efficient, sustainable biochar network.
This will improve our industrial and agricultural systems by regenerating depleted soils, removing carbon from the atmosphere, and restoring our ecosystem.
Attention Editors
The Direct Air Capture and Greenhouse Gas Removal Technologies Competition, funded by the BEIS Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, offers money for the development of technologies that permit the removal of greenhouse gases from the environment in the UK.
Only initiatives supported in Phase 1 were eligible to apply for Phase 2 of the program, which builds on Phase 1 to move projects from the design and feasibility stage to the demonstration phase.