Court of Appeal to hear Teesside 'net zero' power plant claims
Claims that a new power station will offer no "meaningful progress towards net zero" will be heard by the Court of Appeal later.Environmental consultant Andrew Boswell lost a High Court case in August after arguing against the green credentials of Net Zero Teesside, which aims to use carbon capture technology. Dr Boswell has been allowed to take his case to the Court of Appeal, where it will be heard over the next two days.The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said the technology was vital to boost the United Kingdom's "energy independence".
Net Zero Teesside Power, owned by BP and Equinor, is developing the plant on the Teesworks site near Redcar.It has previously said that the project could generate up to 860 megawatts of low carbon electricity.It claimed that at least 90% of the gas power station's emissions would be captured and funnelled beneath the North Sea.In February 2024 the government granted the project a development order (DCO) which is required for nationally significant infrastructure projects.
'Counting mistakes'
But at the High Court last year, legal representatives for Dr Boswell said the consultant had exposed "a large double-counting error" regarding how the power station's likely greenhouse gas emissions would be calculated.Barrister Catherine Dobson said the final assessment - that it may contribute more than 20 million tonnes of "carbon dioxide equivalent" into the atmosphere over its lifetime - was "significantly greater" than previously estimated.She argued there was "a demonstrable flaw in the reasoning" which led to the development consent decision.She said this meant the previous government had taken an unlawful approach when assessing the need for the project.This argument was dismissed by Mrs Justice Lieven, however, with her saying there was "no logical flaw in the reasoning" set out by ministers.This will be put to the test in September when Dr Boswell appeals against that High Court judgement.
'Carbon row'
Dr Boswell said carbon capture was an "unproven technology" which risks keeping energy bills high and tied to a "volatile gas market". "[It offers] no guarantee of success or meaningful progress towards Net Zero," he added. A DESNZ spokesperson said there was "no route to protecting jobs in our industrial heartlands" in the UK without carbon capture. "This funding will see our industries remain competitive in the global economy, kickstart growth and lead the world in a ground-breaking clean energy technology."Net Zero Teesside Power said it could not comment on live legal proceedings.
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