UKCCSRC Conference 2026 – Plenary 4: CO2 Storage (ECR Meeting Fund)

Ebraheem Alanazy (University of Liverpool), Emmanuel Jonah (Cranfield University), Chioma Emehel (Heriot-Watt University) and Meisam Ansarpour (University of Wolverhampton) share their takeaways from the “Plenary 4: CO2 Storage” session at the UKCCSRC Conference 2026.

The UKCCSRC Spring Conference 2026, held at the University of Sheffield on June 24-25, brought together top experts to discuss the future of carbon capture and storage. A key highlight from Day 2 was Plenary Session 4, which focused entirely on the massive challenges and exciting breakthroughs in CO₂ storage. Chaired by Stuart Haszeldine (University of Edinburgh) and Jen Roberts (University of Strathclyde), the session featured four stellar speakers who took us on a journey from foundational science to real-world deployment.

The Science of Safe Storage – Professor Sam Krevor (Imperial College London)

Professor Sam Krevor kicked off the session by focusing on the crucial role of underground rock formations as long-term carbon sinks.

• The Good News: There is growing confidence in our ability to securely store CO₂ for the long haul, thanks to better monitoring tools and underground mapping.
• The Hurdles: Moving to a massive scale means we still need to perfect how we calculate exact storage space, handle shifting underground pressures, and verify that the gas stays exactly where it belongs.
• The Takeaway: The science is strong, but we must bridge the gap between lab models and commercial-scale projects.

Overcoming Bottlenecks – Dr. Iain de Jonge-Anderson (University of Strathclyde)

Dr. Iain de Jonge-Anderson shifted the spotlight from pure science to a systems-level delivery problem. He reminded everyone that carbon storage is no longer just a research puzzle, however it is a massive logistics challenge.

• The CO₂-LOGIX Model: He introduced a clever new framework designed to find bottlenecks across tech readiness, infrastructure, rules, and funding.
• Value Chains: For carbon storage to work, the whole chain, capture, moving it, and locking it away, must connect smoothly.
• Collaboration: Success depends on alignment between governments, universities, investors, and local communities.

Navigating the Rules – Dr. Zoë Sayer (North Sea Transition Authority)

Getting permission to store millions of tonnes of carbon under the sea is no easy feat. Dr. Zoë Sayer gave a clear guide on how the NSTA helps projects safely navigate the offshore permitting journey.

• The Five-Step Path: The regulatory roadmap goes through five main steps: Appraise (risk assessment), access (building transport options), define (submitting the permit), execute/operate (pumping the CO₂), and post-closure (monitoring long after closing).
• Strict Checks: Applicants must provide seven critical documents proving their site will not leak or harm the environment or human health.
• Progress: So far, four storage permits have been granted, with more on the way.

Real-World Success – Nick Terrell (Carbon Catalyst)

Closing out the individual presentations, Nick Terrell shared incredible hands-on data from the Poseidon CCS Project, proving that large-scale storage is actively working right now.

• The Test: Starting in February 2025, a three-month test successfully pumped 3,500 tonnes of CO₂ into an offshore well across 15 injection cycles.
• Key Discovery: The data proved that mixing liquids and gases during injection is safe and highly stable, which cuts development costs down significantly.
• Big Ambitions: Looking ahead, the project aims to scale up sharply after a final investment decision in 2027, with an ultimate goal of handling a peak rate of 40 million tonnes of CO₂ per year by 2040 through massive pipeline networks.

Panel Discussion and Q&A

At the end of the session, the floor was opened for a panel discussion and Q&A. All four speakers took to the stage together to answer a wide range of questions from the audience, sparking great conversations on how to practically apply these technical, regulatory and financial insights to the UK’s net-zero targets.

Plenary Session 4 made it clear that the UK’s carbon storage sector is moving fast. By blending rigorous science, smart system logistics, strong regulations, and successful field tests, the path to industrial scale decarbonisation is well underway.