CCS can fire up UK's decarbonisation

The UK carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry could save the country 100 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year by 2030, according to an ambitious industry plan.

A paper released yesterday by the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) says the sector could also generate substantial income from sequestering 500 million tonnes of emissions from overseas, creating an industry worth £10bn a year and supporting 50,000 jobs.

Proponents of CCS argue that storing emissions from power stations and factories in geological formations will be crucial if the UK is to decarbonise while maintaining the 70GW of generation needed to meet 2030 electricity demand.

However, while the government has been a strong supporter of the technology, launching two demonstration competitions to ensure four large-scale projects are up and running between 2018 and 2020, the CCSA says more needs to be done to ensure the nascent industry can achieve such far-reaching targets.

It estimates about 30GW of power station capacity should be equipped with CCS technology by 2030, which will require annual build rates starting at 1GW in 2018 and rising to 3GW just 12 years later. Crucially, this will only be possible if the momentum of the two £1bn demonstration programmes is supported by a clear plan for progression.

CCS must also be exported to industrial sectors beyond power, not only to emphasise the role of CCS in decarbonising the economy but also to avoid rendering energy-intensive industries uncompetitive.

Early planning, development and deployment of CCS infrastructure that can adapt or be upgraded to complement future technologies could also help the UK maintain its global lead in the sector, the CCSA says.

"CCS is a vital low-carbon technology for the UK and is recognised by the government as one of the three key technologies – alongside nuclear and renewables – to reach a near-decarbonisation of the electricity sector by 2030, which will be imperative if we are to meet our longer-term climate change targets," said Jeff Chapman, CCSA chief executive.

"We are confident the government appreciates how crucial it is that the right decisions are made – and made on time – regarding the structure and pace of the deployment programme, funding mechanisms, and transport and storage infrastructure to enable the long-term CCS industry to take shape."

Today's launch took place at the Westminster AGM of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Clean Coal, at which a motion was made to rename the group the APPG on Carbon Capture and Storage.

Its expanded remit will now include gas and biomass power, as well as industrial processes. These are expected to be included in the government's new CCS roadmap, along with the confirmation of ScottishPower's Longannet plant as the winner of the first demonstration competition, when it is published in mid-November.