UK CCUS expertise could accelerate Asia Pacific projects

A new report by global energy consultancy Xodus suggests that United Kingdom expertise in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) could accelerate project development across the Asia Pacific region. The analysis, commissioned by the UK Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, notes that the Asia Pacific region accounts for over half of global carbon dioxide emissions and is poised to become a major hub for CCUS deployment.

The report identifies a strong alignment between the technical challenges faced in the Asia Pacific and the specialist capabilities the UK has developed through its own CCUS industry. Key areas for potential collaboration include subsurface appraisal, saline aquifer screening, regulatory and monitoring frameworks, specialist capture technologies, and engineering for CO2 transport and shipping infrastructure.

Andrew Taylor, Head of Advisory for APAC at Xodus, stated that while the region possesses significant emissions and storage resources, the primary challenge lies in converting that potential into investable projects. He noted that applying UK experience in partnership with local governments and supply chains could help the region avoid repeating developmental hurdles and speed up deployment.