The Project
The Proposed Pipeline Corridor
The Humber Carbon Capture Pipeline would be an underground, onshore pipeline with Above Ground Installations, running between the Drax area in North Yorkshire and the coast north of Easington in East Riding of Yorkshire.
The pipeline would transport carbon dioxide from carbon capture projects across the region to the coast for onward transportation and safe storage.
The proposed pipeline route runs from the Drax area to Easington, with spur lines to the Keadby, Croxton, Killingholme and Salt End areas. These were identified previously by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) as having potential carbon capture projects in their cluster sequencing process in August 2022.
Ultimately, the proposed pipeline corridor would accommodate connections to any potential carbon capture project directed by DESNZ. We anticipate that DESNZ will provide further guidance on the specific carbon capture projects which the pipeline should connect to in due course.
Key features
The pipeline is designed to transport up to 17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. It would transport carbon dioxide in dense phase (a highly compressed fluid that exhibits properties of both liquid and gas).
The main west-east pipeline would be 66cm in diameter. Smaller ‘spur’ lines, of around 15 to 30cm in diameter, would branch off the main pipeline to provide connections to carbon capture projects.
The pipeline will be buried at a minimum depth of 1.2m below ground level.
Safety
Safety is at the heart of the Humber Carbon Capture Pipeline project and would be the primary consideration at every step of design, construction, operation, and decommissioning.
This includes the safety of all people directly affected by the project, including local communities and project personnel, as well as the safety of all people who may be indirectly affected, such as road users on access routes and personnel at supplier facilities.
In operation, we would monitor the pipeline remotely for any possible leaks, to ensure we are able to resolve them quickly and safely.
The pipeline route
The routing of the pipeline maintains an appropriate distance from all settlements and avoids properties and gardens. It has been designed in accordance with all relevant legal requirements and best practices, including the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996 and requirements of the Health and Safety Executive.
The pipeline would mostly pass through agricultural land, and we would work closely with landowners to minimise disturbance.
A leak detection system comprising Fibre Optic Cables (FOC) would run alongside the pipeline, immediately next to it. This is a key component of the pipeline monitoring system and would alert the operator to potential leaks.
A full description of the pipeline route is provided in Chapter 2 of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report.
View latest pipeline route and maps (as per 2025 statutory consultation)