Power firms in talks over cross-country CO2 pipeline

Proposals have been put forward to create a pipeline capable of carrying two million tonnes of carbon dioxide across Scotland.

Three energy companies, Scottish Power, National Grid and Shell UK, are working together on a plan to make the pipeline a reality.

National Grid would transport the CO2 captured at ScottishPower's Longannet power station to St Fergus, Aberdeenshire, where it would be transported offshore to be stored in Shell's depleted gas field in the North Sea.

The work would include building a new 18km long pipeline from Longannett power station, as well as converting an existing natural gas line which runs from Falkirk to Peterhead.

A National Grid spokeswoman said: "We provide the expertise in the transportation of carbon dioxide gas through a combination of new and existing pipelines.

"The existing 280km pipeline will require a change of use from natural gas to transport carbon dioxide instead.

"Work will begin on the new pipeline in 2014, with the overall aim to deliver a full chain post-combustion CCS scheme in 2015."

National Grid said they have been in discussions with the public for over a year and has just completed its second round of public information days about the pipeline proposals.