How we regulate carbon dioxide transport and storage networks

The Energy Act 2023 requires that any company wishing to store carbon dioxide in a geological store or transport it by pipeline to a geological store in the UK must hold an economic licence.

Currently the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) issues licences for carbon dioxide transport and storage.

Contact DESNZ for more information on applying for a licence.

Our role in carbon dioxide transport and storage

The Energy Act 2023 sets out our legal powers and duties for regulating carbon dioxide transport and storage. 

Our main legal duties are to:

• protect the interests of current and future carbon dioxide transport and storage network users, for example large industrial plants who want to decarbonise their operations by capturing and storing their carbon dioxide emissions
• protect the interests of consumers who may be affected by our carbon dioxide transport and storage regulation
• promote the efficient, economic development and operation of transport and storage networks taking into account how those with a licence finance their activities

Contact us

For more information on our role in regulating carbon capture and storage, email CCUS@ofgem.gov.uk.