Latest news with #AndrewBoswell
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Appeal against Teesside 'net zero' power station dismissed
An appeal against the decision to approve a new gas power station has been consultant Andrew Boswell appealed a High Court decision after arguing against the green credentials of Net Zero Teesside, which is planning to use carbon-capture technology at the case was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on Thursday, with Dr Boswell saying the ruling proved climate laws were "broken".The project's developers said they were "pleased" with the decision. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) declined to comment. In March, Dr Boswell's legal representatives had argued the government did not fully explore the environmental impacts of the scheme before approving said it had acknowledged the "significant" greenhouse gas emissions the scheme would cause before any decision was Rose Grogan, for DESNZ, had told the court: "Fossil fuel remains part of the government's energy mix. "It's part of the transition to a low-carbon economy... but it needs to be low carbon through the deployment of CCS [carbon capture and storage]." The plant, which is planned for the Teesworks site, near Redcar, is being developed by a firm called Net Zero Teesside Power – owned by BP and company previously stated the project could generate up to 860MW of low-carbon has claimed at least 90% of the gas power station's emissions would be captured and funnelled beneath the North Sea. 'No merit in challenge' In its judgement, the court said its task was simply to determine whether or not the decision-making process surrounding the power plant was said the "evaluation" and "acceptability" of the estimated emissions caused by the plant was a "matter of fact and judgement for the decision-maker".The government had made "lawful and properly reasoned conclusions" regarding the plant's potential greenhouse gas emissions, the court Zero Teesside Power said: "[We] welcome this second judicial confirmation that there is no merit in Andrew Boswell's challenge."Dr Boswell called for the government to launch a scientific review into the use of carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) for gas power plants. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
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 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 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 has previously said that the project could generate up to 860 megawatts of low carbon claimed that at least 90% of the gas power station's emissions would be captured and funnelled beneath the North 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 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 argued there was "a demonstrable flaw in the reasoning" which led to the development consent said this meant the previous government had taken an unlawful approach when assessing the need for the argument was dismissed by Mrs Justice Lieven, however, with her saying there was "no logical flaw in the reasoning" set out by 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. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
27-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Thickthorn Junction: £200m road scheme gets government approval
A multi-million pound road scheme, delayed by court action, has been given the go-ahead by the £200m project to overhaul the A47-A11 Thickthorn junction on the edge of Norwich aims to speed up journey government has said the scheme will also support a strategy for the area, called the Greater Norwich City Deal, to help build more than 44,000 homes and create 33,000 jobs."This scheme is finally getting the go-ahead it deserves, after years of expensive legal blocks," said Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood. "We are now able to unlock this vital scheme that Norwich has waited long for."We are determined to get Britain building again as this scheme is set to not only improve journeys but create thousands of new homes and jobs." Redevelopment of the Thickthorn junction, which connects the A47 with the A11 and brings in traffic from south of Norwich, was one of three major A47 projects blocked by court activist Andrew Boswell had his crowd-funded legal challenge about carbon emissions rejected in the appeal court last other schemes were the new junctions and dualling of the road between Blofield and North Burlingham and between North Tuddenham and Department for Transport (DfT) said the court cases meant work on the Thickthorn scheme had been "delayed by over a year". Once work is completed, drivers are predicted to save up to four minutes on their journeys at peak times on the eastbound A11 to A47, and up to three minutes along the A11, according to the has also estimated that up to 26 fatal or serious injury road crashes could be avoided over 60 years due to rerouted traffic and new pedestrian and cycle new slip roads linking the A47 and A11 will reroute traffic away from the junction and take it beneath new underpasses. Graham Plant, Norfolk County Council's Conservative cabinet member for highways, said the local authority was "thrilled" by the minister's announcement."Thickthorn junction has been a persistent bottleneck, and we've been pushing for these improvements for a number of years," he said. "This scheme will unlock significant economic growth, helping to supercharge the vital connection between the A11 and the nationally significant businesses who have found a home in Norfolk."Nova Fairbank, chief executive of Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, said the business community had "long campaigned" for the improvements along the A47 and the latest funding was "much needed".She added: "The ability to deliver further housing, jobs and new commercial opportunities, as a result of this junction upgrade, will make a significant difference." Preparations started There were concerns the Thickthorn scheme would be cancelled when the incoming Labour government announced a DfT spending review, with the junction plans under scrutiny.A £300m package of A47 improvements was first pledged in 2014 by the then prime minister, David to the National Highways website, preparation work is already under way at the site. A completion date has not yet been announced. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
