The Dangerous Drive To Net Zero

It is well known that Reform Uk is the only political party implacably opposed to Net Zero policies.

This is not because we are all climate change deniers (though some of us are) but because the policy is ideological and illogical.

UK carbon emissions are less than 1% of total global emissions so reducing them to zero could have not possibly have any impact on the climate- or anything else.

It is straightforward maths.

But this blog post is not about the economic cost of the policy but explains why the insane drive to get to Net Zero could be very dangerous.

FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

But first let me tell you a story.


Eli Jacobs tapped the steering wheel with the rhythm of the country song on the radio, eyes flicking to the horizon as twilight bled into full darkness. He had just passed the Yazoo River bend when the engine of his old Dodge Ram gave a cough. Then another. And then — silence.

The truck coasted for a few seconds before it gave up the ghost entirely. Eli cursed under his breath, pulled over to the shoulder, and threw it in park. He twisted the key. Nothing. Dashboard lights flickered dimly, then died.

That’s when he noticed it — a strange, creeping fog rolling low across the road, hugging the asphalt like something alive. It wasn’t normal. It wasn’t dew or swamp mist. It was too thick. Too fast.

He got out to check under the hood. The air hit him like a brick wall.

His breath caught.

A sour, metallic tang filled his mouth, and his chest tightened. It felt like trying to breathe with a fist pressed against his ribs. His legs went soft. He staggered, one hand gripping the side mirror, the other reaching for his phone. He dropped it.

Through blurred eyes, Eli saw other cars stalled on the road ahead, their headlights barely cutting through the dense white cloud. One woman had her door open and was crawling along the roadside on hands and knees. Someone was screaming.

He tried calling out, but no sound came. Just a wheeze. Like a balloon slowly deflating.

Then came the silence. Not peaceful, but wrong — like the world had hit mute.

No crickets. No engines. No birds.

Just the oppressive suffocating silence.

SO WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ELI?

On the evening of February 22, 2020, a 24-inch pipeline ruptured near the village of Satartia, Missisippi, releasing over 31,000 barrels of compressed CO₂ into the atmosphere.

This sudden release created a dense, low-lying gas cloud that displaced oxygen in the area, leading to severe health effects among residents. Emergency services received numerous calls reporting symptoms such as disorientation, seizures, and respiratory distress. Vehicles stalled as engines failed due to the lack of oxygen, complicating evacuation and rescue efforts. In total, over 300 people were evacuated, and at least 45 were hospitalised with symptoms consistent with CO₂ exposure.

Investigations revealed that the rupture was exacerbated by the unique properties of CO₂ under high pressure, which can cause pipelines to fail in a "zipper-like" fashion, releasing large volumes of gas rapidly.

The local Fire Chief describes what happened.

The Satartia incident raised concerns about the rapid expansion of carbon capture and storage infrastructure, which relies heavily on CO₂ pipelines. Advocates argue that without stringent safety regulations and oversight, similar incidents could occur elsewhere, especially as we rush to expand our CO₂ pipeline networks significantly to meet Net Zero goals.

But what has this got to do with the Wirral and the North West of England?

Well ....everything really...........

The reason is HyNet North West

It is highly unlikely that you will have heard of this before as the details seem to have been embargoed in local media. There is an obscure Reuters press release about it but that is all we have found in terms of media coverage.

Nevertheless when you know where to look the information can be found with AI on various Company websites.

In their own words-

"HyNet North West is a ground-breaking decarbonisation cluster. It will unlock a low carbon economy for the North West of England and North Wales, placing the region at the forefront of the UK’s drive to net zero and wider energy security aims."

Key Components of HyNet North West

Hydrogen Production

Two hydrogen production plants are planned at the Stanlow Manufacturing Complex, developed by Essar Energy Transition (EET). These facilities will produce low-carbon hydrogen by reforming natural gas and capturing the resulting CO₂ emissions. The first plant (HPP1) has received planning approval, with operations expected to commence around 2026–2027.

Hydrogen Pipeline Network

Cadent is developing the UK's first 100% hydrogen pipeline network at scale, spanning approximately 100–125 km. This underground pipeline will transport hydrogen from Stanlow to various industrial sites across the region, including Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, and Lancashire.

Hydrogen Storage

INOVYN is establishing hydrogen storage facilities in salt caverns near Northwich, Cheshire. This storage capability is crucial for balancing supply and demand and ensuring a stable hydrogen supply for industrial users.

Carbon Capture and Storage

Captured CO₂ from hydrogen production and industrial processes will be transported via pipelines to repurposed offshore gas fields in Liverpool Bay for permanent storage. This CCS infrastructure is a vital component of HyNet's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

So why is this dangerous?

Well the first thing to say is that this is all brand new technology which is untested and has had very mixed results when there have been attempts to implement it.

We heard above about the pipeline fracture in Mississippi but here have been a number of other CCS failures including the Salah project in Algeria which had to be abandoned when the injection of the compressed CO2 caused ground deformation and compromised the integrity of the storage site.

In Western Australia, the Gorgon project never operated above 30% of the planned capacity and was 3 times more expensive than originally budgeted. Very few CCS projects achieve more than 60% of their targeted savings.

The risks are as follows

Leakage Risks

CO₂ could potentially leak from pipelines or storage sites if not properly sealed.

Leaks are generally low probability but pose environmental or health hazards if near populated areas.

Induced Seismicity

Injecting large volumes of pressurised CO₂ into underground formations can trigger small earthquakes.

Long-Term Liability

It's still unclear who holds responsibility if CO₂ leaks decades after storage - governments or private companies?

Energy Use and Cost

CCS consumes significant energy and increases operational costs, potentially making this project unviable.

Public Perception

Communities may oppose local CCS sites due to fears of leakage or environmental impact.

Let's hope so!!!!

In terms of the North West project there are a number of specific risks.

Firstly, those associated in transporting compressed gases (both hydrogen and CO2) through "repurposed" natural gas pipelines.

Secondly, Hydrogen comes with its own dangers.

• Highly flammable: Hydrogen can ignite at very low concentrations (as low as 4% in air).

• Wide flammability range: It has a broader flammability range (4%–75%) than gasoline or methane.

• Low ignition energy: A tiny spark, even static electricity, can ignite it.

• Invisible flames: Hydrogen flames are colorless and hard to detect in daylight.

• Small molecule: Hydrogen can easily leak through joints, valves, and seals.

• High diffusivity: It spreads rapidly in air, which can cause undetected build-ups in enclosed spaces.

• Hydrogen embrittlement: Prolonged exposure to hydrogen can weaken metals like steel, leading to cracks or failure in pipelines, storage tanks, and valves.

  
  
  In fairness, the salt caverns of Cheshire do seem to be the right kind of place to try to store Hydrogen however the risks involved in getting it there are obvious.
  
  

But the principle danger lies in attempting to inject 10m tonnes per year of compressed CO2 into the aquifers in Liverpool Bay left by the extraction of natural gas.

And, of course, when the crude oil from Stanlow is split into hydrogen and CO2 we will not have pure CO2 being pumped around and eventually being buried in Liverpool Bay- there will inevitably be a variety of impurities in the liquid gas including Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Hydrogen Sulphide and Mercury.

The idea is that these chemicals will be buried underneath the sea in perpetuity and will never leak into the environment.

The suspicion is that the contracted Italian Company ENI which ran the original gas fields are using the £2 billion from the UK government for CCS as a way of decommissioning the gas fields at no cost to them.

Incidentally, ENI is the same Company that was responsible for the last major oil leak in Liverpool Bay in February 2022 which was also caused by a fractured pipe.

It doesn't inspire confidence!!!

In conclusion, we have been told by the government that fracking- injecting water and chemicals into rock formations in order to release natural gas from shale deposits is unsafe. In fact all the major reports suggest that any risks to the environment are manageable and the fracking technology has been well tested.

But we are now being asked to believe that pumping hazardous chemicals at high pressure through pipelines all over the North of England then burying and sealing hundreds of tonnes of unknown chemicals under rock formations in Liverpool Bay for thousands of years will be fine.

We don't believe this.

So if, in a few years time, you find yourself walking round West Kirby marine lake or are strolling down Hoylake beach and you see a strange white fog approaching from the estuary....... take our advice and..... run!!!!