ABB wins automation contract for HyNet CCS project

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ABB will provide automation and cybersecurity systems for the transportation and storage operations of the UK’s major HyNet CCS project.

The Swiss automation firm has been awarded the contract by Eni, which gave the go ahead last month for construction of a pipeline system called Liverpool Bay CCS, which is expected to unlock £2bn (US$2.67bn) of supply chain investment. ABB has not disclosed the value of its contract.

As the main automation contractor, ABB will deploy its Ability System 800xA integrated control and safety system to manage the automation, telecommunications and cybersecurity for the transportation and storage system. This will carry CO2 captured from industrial plants in the northwest of England and North Wales to depleted gas fields off the Liverpool coast.

Last month, United Living Energy won a £250m contract to be one of the primary contractors for the pipeline system.   

In its first phase, the pipeline will have the capacity to transport 4.5m t/y of CO2 from industrial partners that connect to the HyNet network. Eni expects construction of the project will start this year and that CO2 will start being locked away from 2028. The system’s capacity will be expanded to 10m t/y in the 2030s.

Per Erik Holsten, president of ABB Energy Industries, said: “CCS has an important role to play within the current energy transition but navigating the complexities of operating an industrial cluster is highly technical and challenging.”

Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi said: “ABB’s automation expertise will be invaluable in providing an integrated and end-to-end common control solution spanning all main EPC [engineering procurement and construction] providers involved in HyNet.” 

Last year, the UK government announced it would invest almost £22bn in CCS over 25 years supporting the HyNet cluster and a second in Teesside.