Severnside Carbon and energy logistics company Exolum have agree to create a new subsidiary, Exolum 7CO₂, to invest and lead the next phase of development of a carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage terminal at Avonmouth, Port of Bristol. Técnicas Reunidas, the leading Spanish engineering firm, will also act as a partner.
The companies note that industry outside four clusters in northern England and Scotland cannot access government backed carbon capture, transport and storage infrastructure. They say around half of UK industrial emissions fall outside of these areas, with industry in South Wales responsible for 5% of the UK’s carbon emissions.
The terminal will be designed for modular transport by rail and ship.
Exolum 7CO₂ expects operations to start from 2031. Once operational, it says the terminal could handle up to six million tonnes of CO₂ a year. This is equivalent to the south-west of England’s total annual emissions from existing emitters, and the companies say emerging industries – including regional data centres and sustainable aviation fuel projects already under development – could also invest in CCUS, supported by the terminal’s capabilities. They say, “By providing open-access CO₂ logistics, the terminal will create a clearer route for energy-intensive businesses to capture, transport and store emissions”.
Nacho Casajús, Senior Vice President at Exolum Global Energy Logistics, said: “The energy transition needs resilient, future-ready infrastructure that gives industry access to the carbon capture ecosystem. Through Exolum 7CO₂, we are using our energy logistics expertise to create an independent, open-access CO₂ terminal that can scale over time – accelerating carbon capture across England and South Wales, with the reliability and high standards customers expect from Exolum.”
Exolum owns and operates a UK network of ten fuel, biofuel and chemical storage terminals at ports around the country, and a 2,000km pipeline network that delivers aviation fuel.