VPI appoints Worley to provide services for one of the world’s largest carbon capture projects

Leading power company VPI has announced the appointment of Worley to lead preparations for the delivery of its carbon capture project at Immingham in the UK.

VPI has been working with Worley, a global professional services company of energy, chemicals and resources experts, on the front-end engineering design (FEED) for the carbon capture retrofit since 2022. Worley has now been awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) development phase which will prepare for the EPC of the project, pending a final investment decision next year.

Located in the heart of the Humber region, the Immingham plant is one of the two proposed emitter projects for the Viking CCS cluster, which has been given Track 2 status.

VPI aims to capture up to 3.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide yearly. VPI estimates that its project will create more than 1,500 construction jobs, alongside additional permanent jobs once operational. 

Research from Viking CCS has shown that the cluster’s projects could unlock up to £7bn of investment across the value chain from 2025 to 2035, as well as providing an estimated £4bn of gross value add (GVA) to the Humber region. 

Upon the announcement on 24 July, Jonathan Briggs, Director of Development and Delivery at VPI, said: “Our carbon capture project will help kickstart decarbonisation of the Humber industrial region and preserve and create thousands of jobs during construction. It will help enable the transport and storage infrastructure needed for other nearby industries to start capturing their carbon, while delivering low-carbon, reliable and flexible power and steam.

“To help reach net zero timeframes, we have been preparing as much as we can so that we can be ‘shovel ready’, ahead of key decisions on the Track 2 emitter projects. We have been working closely with Worley throughout the FEED process. They know the project well and our continued partnership means we can hit the ground running.”

Marino Barbi, Senior Vice President, UK at Worley, added: “VPI’s Humber Zero Carbon Capture project is strategically important to the UK’s net zero ambitions. This award demonstrates VPI’s commitment to decarbonising the Humber region, reflects Worley’s CCUS and project delivery expertise and aligns with our sustainability vision and ambition. We’re excited to continue to partner with VPI on their decarbonisation journey.”