The Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) CO2 transport and storage project in the UK has been awarded independent certification by DNV, a leading global expert in energy systems and technology. The project is a crucial component of the UK’s East Coast Cluster, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industrial emitters in Teesside.
The scope of work for DNV includes verifying that the construction and operations of the CO2 transport chain comply with the license granted by the UK government. This involves checking design integrity, construction quality, and commissioning readiness to ensure the system performs as intended when CO2 flows through it.
DNV’s independent certification provides regulators and project partners with confidence that complex CO2 transport infrastructure has been delivered in accordance with its license requirements. The company brings decades of North Sea verification experience and technical expertise in CO2 pipeline integrity and risk management to this role.
The independent certifier role is a new regulatory requirement for the UK carbon capture and storage sector, aimed at ensuring compliance before infrastructure enters operation. This move underscores the importance of safety, quality, and technical assurance in the development of large-scale carbon capture and storage projects.
NEP’s East Coast Cluster will transport CO2 from industrial emitters in Teesside to offshore pipelines and injection systems beneath the southern North Sea. The project is a significant step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industrial sources in the UK.
The certification process involves a thorough review of the project's design, construction, and commissioning procedures to ensure they meet the required standards. DNV’s expertise in this area will provide valuable assurance that the project meets the highest safety, quality, and technical standards.
Rich Denny, Managing Director of NEP, noted that independent certification plays a crucial role in delivering the UK's first and largest CO2 transportation and storage asset. This confidence is essential for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of this nationally significant infrastructure.
Hari Vamadevan, Senior Vice President and Regional Director for the UK & Ireland at DNV, added that their role is to provide objective, evidence-based assurance grounded in decades of North Sea verification experience and technical expertise in CO2 pipeline integrity and risk management.
The successful completion of this certification process marks a significant milestone for the NEP project and demonstrates the commitment of its partners to delivering high-quality infrastructure that meets the highest standards of safety, quality, and technical assurance.
Independent certification ensures complex infrastructure meets safety, quality, and technical standards.
