'New era for North Sea' with CCS technology

Published on Tuesday 12 January 2010 20:29

BRITAIN sits on the cusp of a new chapter for the North Sea as it develops technology to clean up power station emissions, according to the boss of ScottishPower.

The company intends to pump liquefied carbon emissions from Longannet coal-fired station into disused oil and gas wells in the North Sea. It is down to the last two in the UK government's competition to develop and operate the technology.

ScottishPower chief executive Nick Horler told an audience in Aberdeen last night: "The challenges, both technical and commercial, are great, the physical risks serious, the commitment needed by governments, industry and individuals just as big – but carbon capture and storage – I think – really offers us the chance to 'go again' in the North Sea."

ScottishPower is working with Shell and other consortium partners, Aker Clean Carbon and National Grid.

Horler said: "I have been extremely heartened by the level of cross-party support.

"The Scottish Government have shown great ambition to make this a reality and the UK government had the foresight to recognise the need for a commercial CCS solution in the first place – to conquer the challenges posed by climate change and for seeing the opportunities and advantages that could be realised from being the first mover in this embryonic industry.

"When the competition was launched there was a great deal of uncertainty about the scale of economic potential. It's only more recently as we have done the work and come to understand what's required to tackle climate change have we been able to see the size of the rewards on offer."