• Great Yarmouth early-stage carbon capture feasibility studies underway
• Decarbonised gas is an important part of the UK generation mix and ensuring security of supply
• The project could secure the long-term future of the site, supporting additional jobs and the development of new skills

RWE, the UK’s leading electricity generator, has announced plans to progress a carbon capture feasibility study at its Great Yarmouth Power Station. Combined with the company's other three Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) developments, the projects would be capable of providing 5.1 gigawatts (GW) of secure, flexible, low carbon electricity – enough to power around approx. 8.1 million homes.

Future Carbon Capture technology at Great Yarmouth Power Station would enable the generation of 395 megawatts (MW) of decarbonised, secure, flexible power, by capturing approximately 600,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. Investment in the new project could also support the creation of new jobs in the local area and provide millions of pounds of new investment and supply chain opportunities for the local economy.

As operators of the largest fleet of gas fired power stations in the UK and a leading renewables generator, RWE considers Carbon Capture to be a viable solution for delivering decarbonised, reliable, and dispatchable power, supporting the UK’s target for a net zero power system by 2035. 

Located in Norfolk, on the east coast of England, Great Yarmouth is a natural-gas-fired combined-cycle gas and steam turbine power plant. Commissioned in 2002, it is capable of meeting the needs of approximately 300,000 households. It is well located, efficient and flexible and can be started up and shut down quickly and reliably in response to fluctuating energy demands.

The Great Yarmouth station is already connected to a gas pipeline from the Bacton gas terminal, which potentially makes it an ideal location for connecting to the new carbon storage facilities which are being developed in the region. 

Andy Wilkins, RWE Project Development Manager: 
“We are pleased to announce the start of a Carbon Capture feasibility study at Great Yarmouth Power Station as a continuation of our journey towards a decarbonised gas fleet. Carbon capture can support the expansion of other renewable and low carbon technologies that RWE is already a leader in deploying, by providing energy security through firm and flexible provision of electricity.”

RWE is developing the Great Yarmouth Carbon Capture project alongside three other CCS projects;  at its existing stations Staythorpe and Pembroke in Wales, and a new-build gas fired power station with carbon capture at Stallingborough.

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