Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

What is Carbon Capture & Storage?

CCS process illustration (ZEP)

 

Carbon Capture and Storage is a mitigation technology essential in tackling global climate change, and ensuring a secure energy supply.

CCS technology captures carbon dioxide from fossil fuel power stations.

The CO₂ is then transported via pipelines and stored safely offshore in deep underground structures such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs, and deep saline aquifers.

 

CCS Programme: industry day, 16 Dec 2011, Central London

The CCS Industry Day was held on 16 December 2011. The event aimed to provide an update on the CCS programme and give stakeholders an opportunity to help shape the design of the programme before it is finalised.

This successful event was opened with a recorded message from the Secretary of State and went on to highlight Government’s approach to the programme, to confirm the £1bn of capital funding available and to outline the next steps in the process.

Demonstration and deployment

Without CCS, limiting a rise in global temperature to 2°C will be that much more difficult and costly; up to 70% more according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The development and deployment of CCS is critical in allowing us to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector, given the need to maintain fossil fuels as part of a diverse and secure low-carbon energy mix.

Latest developments

Negotiations for the first proposed CCS demonstration project at Longannet power station in Scotland have concluded and the project will not proceed. Despite all parties working extremely hard, a satisfactory deal could not be reached for this particular project. To support CCS deployment, all the findings gained through the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies completed through the process are available.

The Government remains firmly committed to CCS. The long term vision for CCS deployment together with the UK’s industry action plan will be set out when the selection process for further CCS projects is published. £1bn will be available for this new process.

CCS has a key part to play in ensuring that we can keep the lights on at the same time as fighting climate change. The International Energy Agency has estimated that globally 3,400 CCS plants will be needed by 2050 if we are to meet our critical target of 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. The UK has the skills and opportunity to lead the world in this technology, which is why in the spending review we committed to investing up to a billion pounds in CCS.

(Chris Huhne, former Secretary of State)

Video: ZEP - The Hard Facts behind Carbon Capture and Storage

ZEP - The Hard Facts behind Carbon Capture and Storage

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