AECOM will support the scheme’s next phase following acceptance for examination of the Development Consent Order (DCO) application
LONDON (Jul. 27, 2021) — AECOM, the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, announced today it will continue its work on the Keadby 3 Carbon Capture Power Station project, delivering multidisciplinary services to support the scheme as it moves into the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) stage. The Planning Inspectorate has formally accepted for examination the project’s Development Consent Order (DCO) application and AECOM’s ongoing role will include preparation for examination later this year.
AECOM delivered the DCO application and supporting Environmental Statement and environmental permit application for the project, which is one of the world’s first gas-fired power stations to be fitted with carbon capture. AECOM also worked in close partnership with SSE Thermal to deliver the concept design for the CCS project.
The project, developed by SSE Thermal, will capture up to 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year from the power station and will connect into the Humber Low Carbon Pipeline being developed by National Grid and partners. It will enable a dispatchable low carbon power station to be developed to complement the increased use of renewables supplying the UK’s electricity and help the transition to net zero.
Dr Richard Lowe, AECOM’s Energy Sector Lead, said: “AECOM’s ongoing role on this important project enables us to bring our breadth of expertise to the development of CCS in the UK, which will play an important role in the country’s transition to net zero. Keadby 3 will help demonstrate that CCS can be delivered at scale and is now one of the first of the new generation CCS projects in the UK. Acceptance for examination of the DCO application is a significant milestone and to keep the project to programme AECOM used its virtual consultation tool to drive public engagement during the pandemic, working in close collaboration with SSE Thermal and DWD Planning to address the first-of-a-kind challenges of consenting these types of schemes.”
Paul Ferry, Head of Low Carbon CCGT Development for SSE Thermal, added: “We are delighted to have reached this key milestone for the Keadby 3 project. Working alongside the expert team at AECOM has enabled us to drive the project forwards, bringing us one step closer to delivering this first of a kind technology which will make a significant contribution towards our Net-Zero future. Making use of AECOM’s class leading virtual platform enabled us to undertake thorough and meaningful consultation with our stakeholders in spite of the obvious challenges which we faced during the pandemic.”
AECOM has provided a wide range of services to the project including concept design equipment sizing and layouts, preparation of the DCO application, undertaking the environmental impact assessment, providing consultation support and preparing the environmental permit application. AECOM worked with DWD (Planning advisors) and Ardent (for land referencing) to help deliver the project.
AECOM is also helping to develop best available techniques for carbon capture facilities, advising SSE Thermal on minimising potential impacts on the environment.
The Planning Inspectorate will now begin the process of examination, with SSE Thermal hoping to receive development consent from the Secretary of State in the form of a Development Consent Order in late 2022.
