A "unique" direct air capture facility is set to be unveiled in a coastal town.
Hailed as "a positive proposal bringing innovation and science to Lowestoft," Sizewell C and Associated British Ports (ABP) have joined forces to create a demonstrator Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility at the Port of Lowestoft.
With Direct Air Capture an innovative technology that uses chemical reactions to pull carbon dioxide from the air, it could play an important role in reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change.
It is set to be trialled after plans were approved last week.
A scheme centring around "Development of a temporary heat driven Direct Air Capture Demonstrator Plant, comprising a 45m air column and associated mobile office, welfare storage cabin and control room" at ABP's Port Of Lowestoft was lodged with East Suffolk Council in May.
An application by NNB Generation Company (SZC) Ltd was approved by the council last Friday under delegated powers.
The project is being developed following £3m of funding from the Government Greenhouse Gas Removal competition.
Julia Pyke, Sizewell C managing director, said: "This is a really exciting opportunity to trial new green technology in Lowestoft which we hope will play an important role in helping the UK reach Net Zero."
Sizewell C is leading a consortium of academic and industrial partners to develop and trial the heat-driven DAC technology for CO2 that could potentially, in the future, be scaled-up and linked to low-carbon energy available from Sizewell C.
The proposed development is likely to be operational next year. It would be temporary and would be decommissioned after two years.
A delegated report from the council states: "The proposed development site is located on an area of hardstanding within the Port of Lowestoft, on the northern side of the Inner Harbour."
With no objections received, and the scheme approved with conditions, the report concludes: "The proposed development is of both local and national significance.
"This is a positive proposal bringing innovation and science to Lowestoft."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here