As a subsurface oriented consulting company, Merlin has always been interested in learning about new technologies and developments in the Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) and hydrogen storage area.
Ben Adillah attended the 4th UK CCUS & Hydrogen Decarbonisation Summit, held 21-22nd March 2023 in Leeds. The conference was an informative and valuable event, with presentations from industry experts, policy makers, financial institutes and academics. It provided a comprehensive overview of the latest developments and challenges in the geological storage of carbon dioxide and hydrogen, which is a critical component of energy decarbonisation technologies. The conference also served as a platform for participants to exchange knowledge and experiences and to explore innovative solutions for achieving the UK’s Net Zero emissions goals. Policy frameworks and regulatory issues related to CCUS and hydrogen were discussed, as well as financing and investment opportunities. Several themes emerged from the conference, including the role of policy in driving investments and the importance of collaboration between industry, government, and academia.
The presentations, discussions and booth exhibits emphasised the importance of geological storage as a critical component of CCUS and hydrogen projects. Speakers highlighted the need for robust geological storage infrastructures, collaboration to better understand the geological properties and characteristics of reservoirs and the development of new technologies to enhance storage capacity and efficiency. The presentations and discussions provided valuable insights into the latest research and best practices in this area.
The challenges of geological storage were also discussed, including issues related to geological heterogeneity, monitoring and risk assessment. There was also a major focus on the transmission and distribution infrastructure of CO₂ and H₂, as it is important to ensure storage and energy will continue to be accessible in the future. This aligns with Merlin’s focus on providing innovative subsurface solutions and risking criteria to support the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Finally, the political aspects of geological storage were discussed with speakers addressing the importance of developing regulatory frameworks as well as public engagement and consultation to ensure transparency for energy decarbonisation projects to make sure they are accepted by local communities.
Overall, the discussions around geological storage at the 4th UK CCUS & Hydrogen Decarbonisation Summit provided valuable insights including the need for continued innovation and collaboration, government policy, regulatory frameworks as well as public engagement and transparency.
At Merlin, we are looking forward to playing a role in a decarbonised future as we offer consultancy services in CCS, hydrogen storage, geothermal energy and nuclear waste disposal.
