Since 1950, RWE’s site at Staythorpe, in Nottinghamshire has been generating electricity to help meet the UKs energy demands. The current natural gas-fired power station, commissioned in 2010, is one of the most efficient in the UK and continues to produce some of the lowest carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per MW generated of any combined-cycle gas turbine power station in the UK.

We are now investigating options to apply post combustion carbon capture technology to Staythorpe Power Station to provide reliable, firm and flexible decarbonised electricity into the future. The project supports the broader decarbonisation of the region, in line with the Government’s and RWE’s net zero ambitions. We are working with Harbour Energy to explore options for transporting and storing the captured carbon through its Viking Carbon Capture and Storage network.

We will build on Staythorpe’s local energy heritage, safeguarding existing jobs at the power station, whilst delivering significant local economic investment and creating new jobs throughout construction and operation.

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1. Energy generation: Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are produced during the combustion of natural gas for the generation of electricity by a Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station.
2. Capture: CO₂ is removed from the flue gas with a proven and already applied process.
3. Transportation: The captured CO₂ will be compressed and transported via a pipeline
4. Storage: The CO₂ is stored underground permanently, safely and securely beneath the seabed in suitable geological formations. Typically, these are depleted oil and gas fields or saline aquifers.

As Staythorpe Power Station was granted consent under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, any changes to this consent must be made via a variation application submitted to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net-Zero.

As part of the development process, we will also be undertaking an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to assess the potential significant effects the project could have on the environment. Where environmental effects are identified, the EIA will aim to propose measures to avoid, mitigate or compensate for these effects to reduce the project’s impact on the environment.
Ahead of the variation application, we will undertake a public consultation, to inform the local community about the plans and how we will mitigate any proposals. This consultation will include in person and online events to answer any questions the local community or stakeholders may have about this new technology.

The Section 36 process involves several stages:

1. RWE submits an initial application to DESNZ (Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero)
2. DESNZ will consider if the application is suitable for publication.
3. RWE will publish the application on its website, advertise it and send it to all relevant stakeholders and the local planning authority. 
4. The deadline for representations will generally be 28 days after publication of the last notice.
5. The relevant planning authority(ies) are given 2 months after service of the variation application documents to comment.
6. Before determining a variation application, the Secretary of State may cause a discretionary public inquiry to be held.  A decision will then be made by the Secretary of State to approve the variation.

More information on the Section 36 variation process can be found here.