In a swift succession following the announcement of the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) awarding a carbon capture and storage (CCS) license to Perenco UK and Carbon Catalyst in the first competitive carbon storage license round, Wintershall Dea has proudly revealed its own triumphant win.

Wintershall Dea's Camelot license introduces a projected annual storage capacity of up to 6 million tonnes, poised to significantly contribute to CO2 abatement potential in the UK. Situated in the Southern North Sea's Camelot area, the license encompasses both depleted gas fields and a superimposed saline aquifer. With a 50% interest, Wintershall Dea will collaborate with Synergia Energy, the designated project operator during the appraisal phase.

Matthias Pfeiffer, Country Lead CCS & Hydrogen UK at Wintershall Dea, emphasized the company's readiness for this endeavor, stating, "With the extensive subsurface and operational expertise that we have gained over time, Wintershall Dea is well-equipped to contribute to developing these reservoirs to store CO2 potentially starting from 2030. This is a great success in this highly competitive environment."

The task's planning and management fall to Wintershall Dea Carbon Management Solutions UK, a branch established in August 2022 to oversee carbon management projects within the UK sector of the North Sea.

Hugo Dijkgraaf, Wintershall Dea’s Chief Technology Officer and member of the Executive Board, underscored the company's commitment to carbon storage initiatives, affirming, "With the Camelot project, we are once again reaffirming our intention to develop CO2 storage sites in the North Sea to deliver solutions to tackle climate change and decarbonise industries."

The UK government has designated CCS as a pivotal strategy to combat climate change and decarbonize various sectors. NSTA's ambitious plan to award over 100 licenses on the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) within the next few years echoes the nation's resolve to harness offshore storage potential.

The news arrives on the heels of Perenco UK and Carbon Catalyst securing a license for their Poseidon CCS project at the Leman gas fields in the southern North Sea.

Notably, Wintershall Dea, along with partner INEOS, marked a significant milestone with the first-ever CO2 injection in the North Sea on 8 March through Project Greensand. The company also recently clinched a CO2 storage license on the Norwegian continental shelf in partnership with Altera Infrastructure Group.