Monday, August 25, 2025
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
Environmental Magazine
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Research will investigate risk of hidden microbial impact on CO2 storage

May 18, 2025
in News
A A

A new research project aims to explore how microbes in deep underground storage sites could impact the success of carbon capture and storage (CCS).

As the UK strives to reach Net Zero emissions by 2050, secure and permanent geological storage of CO₂ appears to be essential.

Storage in deep geological formations such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs and saline aquifers is believed to offer a promising solution. However, these underground environments host diverse microbial ecosystems, and their response to CO₂ injection remains poorly understood.

This knowledge gap poses a potential risk to long-term CO₂ storage integrity. While some microbial responses may be beneficial and enhance mineralogical or biological CO₂ sequestration, others could be unfavourable, leading to methane production, corrosion of infrastructure, or loss of injectivity.

The new flagship project – by The University of Manchester and global energy company Equinor ASA – global leaders in geological CO2 storage – will investigate how subsurface microbial communities respond to CO₂ injection and storage, highlighting both the potential risks and opportunities posed by these microbes.

Principal Investigator, Prof Sophie Nixon, BBSRC David Phillips and Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow at The University of Manchester, said: “Over the past 20 years, scientists have tested storing CO₂ underground in real-world conditions, but we still know little about how this affects native and introduced microbes living deep below the surface.

“Previous studies have shown that injecting CO₂ underground actively changes microbial communities. In some cases, microbes initially decline but later recover, potentially influencing the fate of injected CO₂ in geological storage scenarios. However, these studies predate the advent of large-scale metagenomic sequencing approaches. A deep understanding of who is there, what they can do and how they respond to CO₂ storage is crucial for ensuring the long-term success of carbon capture and storage.”

The two-year project will collect samples from saline aquifer and oil producing sites to study how microbes living deep underground respond to high concentrations of CO2 by combining geochemistry, gas isotope analysis, metagenomic and bioinformatic approaches.

Project Co-Investigator, Dr Rebecca Tyne, a Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw Fellow at The University of Manchester, said: “To date, Carbon Capture and Storage research has focused on the physiochemical behaviour of CO2, yet there has been little consideration of the subsurface microbial impact on CO2 storage. However, the impact of microbial processes can be significant. For instance, my research has shown that methanogenesis may modify the fluid composition and the fluid dynamics within the storage reservoir.”

Currently, the North Sea Transition Authority requires all carbon capture and storage sites to have a comprehensive ‘Measurement, Monitoring and Verification’ strategy, but microbial monitoring is not yet included in these frameworks. The project’s findings will be shared with industry stakeholders and published in leading scientific journals, helping to close this critical gap and shape future operational activities.

Project Lead, Leanne Walker, Research Associate in Subsurface Microbiology at The University of Manchester, said: “This project will help us understand the underground microbial communities affected by CO₂ storage—how they respond, the potential risks and benefits, and the indicators that reveal these changes.

“Our findings will provide vital insights for assessing microbiological risks at both planned and active CCS sites, ensuring safer and more effective long-term CO₂ storage”.

ShareTweetSharePinSendShare

Related Articles

News

UK plans for geological disposal of nuclear waste declared “unachievable” by Treasury

August 20, 2025
News

Plastics pollution talks conclude in deadlock again, but progress is still possible

August 19, 2025
News

Spending Review 2025: A catalyst for sustainable, integrated infrastructure?

August 18, 2025
News

London’s ‘Wet Wipe Island’ is the first such mass to be removed by mechanical means

August 13, 2025
News

AI-driven continuous water monitoring system to be adopted by Yorkshire Water

August 13, 2025
News

Environmental health trade group calls for extra resources to help tackle issue of empty homes

August 11, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Appeals Court Hears Arguments in Case Claiming Environmental Racism in Cancer Alley Zoning

October 7, 2024

Fighting for a Foothold in American Law, the Rights of Nature Movement Finds New Possibilities in a Change of Venue: the Arts

February 4, 2024

Don't miss it

Activism

The Woman Holding Chinese Mining Giants Accountable

August 24, 2025
Fossil Fuels

Great Lakes Microplastics Research Could Inform National and Global Policy

August 23, 2025
Activism

Citing Environmental Concerns, Judge Orders Alligator Alcatraz to Wind Down Operations

August 22, 2025
Fossil Fuels

There’s a ‘Lake’ of Oil Under LA’s Soon-to-Close Refinery. Who’s Going to Clean It Up?

August 22, 2025
Activism

Colombia’s President Called Out an Alabama Company’s Coal Exports to Israel. Now Alabamians Are Protesting

August 22, 2025
Fossil Fuels

Pennsylvania Lured Shell to the State With a $1.65 Billion Tax Break. Now the Company Wants to Sell Its Plant

August 22, 2025
Environmental Magazine

Environmental Magazine, Latest News, Opinions, Analysis Environmental Magazine. Follow us for more news about Enviroment and climate change from all around the world.

Learn more

Sections

  • Activism
  • Air
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Fossil Fuels
  • News
  • Uncategorized
  • Water

Topics

Activism Air Climate Change Energy Fossil Fuels News Uncategorized Water

Recent News

The Woman Holding Chinese Mining Giants Accountable

August 24, 2025

Great Lakes Microplastics Research Could Inform National and Global Policy

August 23, 2025

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.