Scottish Government
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Carbon capture potential
Scotland's place as the leading global location to develop Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology has been confirmed by a new report published yesterday.
Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage (SCCS) research highlights the vast storage potential of rocks beneath the Moray Firth, which could store up to a century's worth of carbon from Scotland's power plants.
Yesterday's report builds on previous SCCS research which highlighted Scotland's North Sea storage potential as being of European scale significance.
Energy Minister Jim Mather today welcomed the findings and the vote of confidence in Scotland's R&D expertise through the Scottish Funding Council's 2 million pounds funding for the SCCS, also announced today.
Energy Minister Jim Mather said:
"Today's research cements Scotland's position as the number one location for CCS technology development and deployment in the world. CCS can create thousands of new low carbon jobs in Scotland and we must move quickly to seize the full economic and environmental opportunities.
"We already know the North Sea has an amazing carbon storage potential - the largest offshore storage capacity in Europe - offering up the prospect of storage of Scotland's industrial emissions generated for the next 200 years. Today's report now shows the Captain Sandstone, widespread under the Moray Firth, could store up to a century's worth of carbon from Scotland's major power plants.
"The research is a great example of the continued commitment of government, industry and academia coming together as a partnership to deliver new insights on the potential for carbon capture and storage projects. The new 2 million pounds funding from the Scottish Funding Council for the SCCS is extremely welcome and will build on that academic expertise in the areas of research, policy and technical expertise.
"We now need the UK Government to recognise the Scottish potential and award a CCS demonstrator project to Longannet, the outstanding contender left in the UK competition."
