A TEESSIDE project aiming to create around 250 jobs has been shortlisted in the Government’s £1bn competition to capture and store carbon emissions.

The Teesside Low Carbon project, based at Wilton International centre, has been under development for six years.

Essentially, it plans to store carbon emissions from key industrial emitters around the region under the North Sea.

The ambitious project has been put together by a consortium formed by BOC, GDF SUEZ, Premier Oil and Progressive Energy.

It aims to develop a syngas plant to convert coal to carbon dioxide (CO²) and hydrogen.

The hydrogen will be used to generate green electricity, and the CO² will be captured and transported for long-term storage under the central North Sea in a depleted oil field.

Progressive Energy managing director Peter Whitton said: “CCS (carbon capture and storage) underpins economic growth by providing energy security, creating jobs and economic prosperity while tackling climate change.

“We are delighted that the UK Government has recognised the massive potential that our project can deliver for Teesside and the wider North of England.

“As well as creating direct employment, the project will provide a critically important facility for existing North East industries and enable further potential inward investment.