MPs, industry experts and business leaders heard how Yorkshire and Humber holds the key to the future of carbon capture and storage (CCS), at a conference and dinner which was held on 3 and 4 November in Leeds. Attendees heard from the Office of Carbon Capture and Storage, leading project developers and MEP’s Chris Davies and Timothy Kirkhope, all of whom confirmed the importance of CCS and the potential of the technology to reduce carbon emissions and increase the energy security of the UK.
The event marked the launch of a new paper from CO2Sense about the advantages of creating a shared pipeline across Yorkshire and Humber. Three projects in the region have applied for funding from the EU to develop full chain, commercial-scale CCS projects. And with the recent collapse of the Longannet CCS project in Scotland, delegates called on the government, the EU and other key stakeholders to maintain the momentum towards realising CCS by working with the Yorkshire and Humber consortium.
Dr Stephen Brown, Director of Strategy at CO2Sense, said “The Yorkshire and Humber CCS cluster has long been regarded as the foremost project of its type in the country. And now, with the cancellation of the Longannet project in Scotland, we look to the UK government to continue its commitment to the technology by enabling us to develop our world-leading CCS network in the next 5-6 years. This conference shows politicians and industry the great progress that has been made in the region and the potential for Y&H to lead the world in demonstrating and deploying CCS”
2Co Energy, C-Gen and Drax Power, all presented on the status of their commercial-scale carbon capture demonstration projects, whilst National Grid, outlined their ambitious plans for CO2 transport infrastructure, infrastructure that would enable industry in the region to capture and store CO2 for decades to come. Other speakers included Doosan Power Systems, who explained their CO2 capture pilot project at Ferrybridge power station which they expect to open in December and Tata Steel, who outlined their ambition to bring new technology - developed through the Ultra Low Carbon Dioxide Steelmaking programme - to their steel plant in the Humber. 2Co Energy, C-Gen, Drax Power and National Grid, all have applications for New Entrant Reserve funding with the EU and will will find out if they are through to the next stage on 9th Feb 2012.
CO2Sense, the not-for-profit low carbon experts, are working with industry and government to promote the development of CO2 pipeline network that can serve all major CO2 emitters in the region. A copy of "Building the Pipeline Together" is available on this webpage or you can order a hard copy by emailing hugh.goulbourne@co2sense.co.uk. Copies of the presentations from the event can also be downloaded from here:
CO2Sense (Dr Stephen Brown)
OCCS (Adam Dawson)
2COEnergy (Lewis Gillies)
Drax Power (David Love)
C Gen (Ian Devine)
Ferrybridge/Doosan Power (Matthew Hunt)
National Grid Carbon (Jim Ward)
Tata Steel (Bruce Adderley)