Decarbonisation and resource management by BGS

The decarbonisation and resource management challenge area fits within the context of the increased need to decarbonise energy and industry, the need to use resources more optimally, intense global competition for resources and a need to expand the delivery of affordable, sustainable energy across the world.

Deep geological disposal is a key solution to the long-term, safe management of radioactive waste but it requires understanding complex subsurface processes for up to one million years in the future. Important science considerations include:

containment: understanding of subsurface fluid processes is vital to the containment of radioactive materials
siting: understanding the geology of a geo-disposal site will inform safe site selection

Radioactive waste research

The carbon capture and storage (CCS) topic will support the UK, Europe and other countries in developing safe, efficient CO₂ storage, to decarbonise industry, power, transport and heating to meet net zero targets.

Planning a CO₂ storage site: developing a carbon dioxide (CO_₂) storage pilot.
Developing and maintaining technologies and methodologies: predicting the evolution of the CO_₂ plume by observing site behaviour before, during and after injection of CO_₂
Containment: selecting and characterising geological sites that are expected to enable permanent containment.
CO_₂injection, pressure management and storage optimisation: understanding the limits on pressure increases, improving methods for injection and managing pressure increases.
Planning and licensing regulation.

Carbon capture and storage research

Energy storage is a new topic area for the BGS. The strategy is:

to quantify the energy storage potential (capacity and location) offered by UK geological formations
to investigate and address geological barriers and hazards associated with the deployment of underground energy storage
to improve knowledge of thermal, hydrogeological, mechanical, chemical and microbiological influences on underground energy storage
to establish collaborative and innovative approaches to address these objectives

Energy storage research

Geothermal energy research

Understanding the origin, transport and concentration of the metals and materials that are critical for the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Critical raw materials research

Monitoring global mineral production, trade flows and mineral statistics to ensure a sustainable supply of resources for a low-carbon economy.

Mineral resources research

Find out more about our research

Mineral resource security and flows

Monitoring mineral production, trade flows and other relevant statistics within the UK to respond to the economy’s demand for raw materials.

Geodisposal: radioactive waste

Providing geological data and interpretations concerning the safe storage and disposal of radioactive waste.

Critical raw materials

Addressing global concerns over the long-term availability of secure and adequate supplies of the minerals and metals needed by society.

Geothermal energy

Investigating geothermal energy — energy stored in the form of heat beneath the surface of the solid Earth.

Hydrocarbon systems

Working with UK and overseas governments to provide geological and oil prospectivity advice.

Energy storage

Continuing BGS’s sustained track record of energy storage research, which will underpin future laboratory, field and GIS-based activities and commissions.