Global energy company Eni has selected ABB as the main automation partner for HyNet—one of the UK’s pioneering industrial carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects, aligned with the government’s Track-1 initiative to cut emissions from heavy industry. ABB will deliver its integrated control and safety system, System 800xA®, to oversee automation, telecommunications, and cybersecurity across the CO₂ transportation and storage infrastructure.
The captured carbon from industrial sites in North West England and North Wales will be safely transported to four depleted gas fields beneath the Irish Sea, near Liverpool. The HyNet initiative aims to cut 10 million tons of carbon dioxide annually by 2030—roughly equal to removing four million cars from the roads and reducing the region’s industrial emissions by 25%.
“Operating a project of this scale and complexity is a significant technical challenge,” said Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB Energy Industries. “We are pleased to support Eni and the HyNet consortium by applying our automation expertise to help accelerate the UK’s move toward cleaner industry.”
Claudio Descalzi, Chief Executive Officer of Eni, added, “HyNet is a strong example of how public and private sectors can work together to deliver real progress on climate action. ABB’s integrated approach to automation will help create a consistent, reliable control system across all project partners.”
The UK Government has committed nearly $29 billion in funding over the next 25 years to support industrial decarbonization projects like HyNet. These efforts aim to establish the UK as a global leader in CCS technology while creating around 50,000 long-term jobs.
ABB, with a history spanning over 140 years, employs around 110,000 people worldwide and specializes in electrification and automation technologies that drive industrial efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. The company is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and Nasdaq Stockholm.
