Crossing the Humber
As we develop our proposals for the pipeline, we are looking at ways to reduce our impact on local communities and the environment. This includes considering how best to install the pipeline under the Humber, between the Goxhill/East Halton and Paull/Thorngumbald areas.
Previous pipelines under the Humber have been installed using a traditional tunnelling technique. However, we are investigating a different method called Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD). Compared to tunnelling, HDD would be quicker, have a reduced environmental impact and generate less construction traffic on the local highway network.
Trial Horizontal Directional Drill
To confirm whether this method can be used we need to undertake a trial horizontal directional drill from both sides of the Humber and carry out advanced ground investigations.
These works need to be undertaken in advance of the main Development Consent Order and require separate permission. These works would not install a carbon dioxide pipeline, but are instead focused on gathering information about ground conditions.
In Summer 2025, we undertook some targeted consultation in the communities either side of the Humber about the trial HDD. We submitted planning applications to North Lincolnshire Council in December 2025 (separate planning applications for the Trial HDD will be submitted to East Riding of Yorkshire in early 2026). Subject to consent, we aim to undertake the trial HDD in 2026. More information, including links to the North Lincolnshire Council planning applications, is available to view here.
Assumptions for the DCO
If we receive consent to undertake the trial HDD and if the findings are positive, we hope to use this method for laying the Humber Carbon Capture Pipeline.
Nevertheless, our Development Consent Order application will seek consent for both the traditional tunnelling and HDD methods of installing the pipeline under the Humber. This is important to provide flexibility and to cover all eventualities. For example, if the HDD trial is positive, but the main HDD works later encounter problems it will be important that we can revert to a tunnelling method.
Our Preliminary Environmental Information Report, presented at the 2025 statutory consultation, therefore discussed both methods and our Environmental Statement (which we will produce at the next stage) will also report on the assessment of both options.
If, from our investigation works, it is decided the HDD method for crossing the Humber is not possible we will remove this method from the proposed DCO application.