UK government given action plan for CCS

UK gas and coal power stations equipped with carbon capture and storage (CCS) have “clear potential” to be cost competitive, according to the latest report by the CCS Cost Reduction Taskforce.

China said this week that it anticipates getting CCS up and running within five years. Are we just as serious about CCS in the UK?

The group claims that power stations with CCS could deliver electricity at a levelised cost approaching £100/MWh by the early 2020s, and at a cost significantly below £100/MWh soon thereafter.

The report highlights seven steps that are needed to support for the large-scale development of CCS for the UK power and industrial sectors.

These include conducting studies to identify how best to set up pipeline networks to transport captured CO₂ and the creation of a tax regime to push enhanced oil recovery using CO₂.

The report also suggest setting up a CCS Knowledge Transfer Network to share information and identify key barriers to the further development of the technology.

Professor Stuart Hazeldine, research director for Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage (SCCS), said the report provided a clear path to a low-cost and flexible decarbonised energy sector.

“A test of UK ambition and policy is to provide a Contracts for Difference price for the three waiting and ready projects, which are not currently in line to receive government funding,” he added.

“This could result in the UK leading the way on CCS worldwide. Without such a guarantee by the end of June, there is a danger that we will instead lose these projects. China said this week that it anticipates getting CCS up and running within five years. Are we just as serious about CCS in the UK?”