The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) has launched its second round of carbon capture licensing, offering 14 sites in Scottish and English waters for exploration and assessment. These sites have the potential to hold up to 2 gigatons of CO2, providing capacity support for future industrial decarbonization in the UK and Europe.

The offered areas fall into two main categories: depleted hydrocarbon fields chosen by the NSTA, and sites with saline aquifers identified after a public call for nominations in early 2025.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) plays a crucial role in the decarbonization of major industrial centers in the UK. It involves transporting CO2 emissions captured during industrial processes from their source to offshore areas and burying them deep within geological formations.

The licensing round will run until March 24, 2026, with permits potentially awarded in early 2027.