CCSA - Archived News

2007

May 2007
CCSA Publishes First Issue of "CCSA News"
One year on from the launch of the CCSA, the Association this month launches the first issue of "CCSA News", covering policy developments in the CCS industry over the past year, as well as an update on the proposed UK CCS projects.
Download "CCSA News" here (pdf)

23 May 2007
UK Government Publishes Energy White Paper
The Department of Trade and Industry has today released the Energy White Paper on behalf of the UK Government. The Paper sets out a strategy to tackle the dual challenges of climate change and ensuring secure, clean and affordable energy for the UK. The Paper also includes further details on the competition, announced in the Budget 2007, to build the first UK CCS demonstration plant. As well as setting out a list of likely criteria against which project proposals will be assessed, the White Paper announced that the competition will be launched in November 2007.
View the Energy White Paper and associated documents
View the DTI press release
View Chapter 5: Electricity Generation (including CCS)
The Association welcomed the White Paper with the following press release (pdf)

22 May 2007
CCSA First Annual President's Reception
The Association held its President's Reception on the House of Lords Terrace on Tuesday 22 May 2007 with Lord Truscott, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy, as the Guest of Honour. The event was a great success and was extremely well attended.
View the speech by Lord Truscott (doc)
View pictures of the reception:
Main reception
Gardiner Hill - Chairman, CCSA
Lord Oxburgh - President, CCSA
Lord Oxburgh 2
Lord Truscott - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy
Jeff Chapman - Chief Executive, CCSA; Lord Truscott, Gardiner Hill and Lord Oxburgh
Gardiner Hill, Jeff Chapman and Tim Dixon- DTI

21 May 2007
Energy White Paper Expected to Push CCS Forward
The Government is to publish the Energy White Paper on Wednesday 23 May, following the Energy Review released in July 2006. It is expected that the White Paper will include general details on the forthcoming competition to begin construction on the UK's first carbon capture and storage demonstration plant.
View the Association's press statement

17 May 2007
Europe's Largest Clean Coal Project Proposed for Scotland
CCSA member ScottishPower today announced a feasibility study to convert the existing power stations at Longannet and Cockenzie to the biggest proposed clean coal project in Europe. The project would utilise supercritical turbines and boilers designed by CCSA members Alstom Power and Doosan Babcock and the project design will also incorporate carbon capture and storage.
View the full press release

11 May 2007
Australia's Coal Industry Committs to Clean Coal
The Australian Coal Association has today announced that at least $1billion will be raised by the coal industry over the next ten years to develop clean coal technology. This is an extension to the $300 million COAL21 Fund announced in March 2006.
View the full media release

11 May 2007
RWE npower Plans New Clean Coal Power Station
An environmental scoping report has today been submitted to DTI by CCSA member RWE npower, to build a new 2400 MW clean coal power station in place of the power station at Blyth. In addition to reducing carbon dioxide by three million tonnes per year, facilities for burning biomass will be included in the design, as well as capture-ready technology.
View the full press release

1 May 2007
Victorian Budget Highlights CCS
The 2007-08 Victorian State Budget has today been released, allocating $50 million to tackling climate change. Specific funds of almost $3.8 million over the next 3 years will be spent on a trial CCS project in the Otway Basin and the establishment of a Clean Coal Authority.
View the full media release

April 2007
UCL Launches Legal Project on CCS
The UCL Centre for Law and the Environment will this month launch a major initiative on the legal aspects of carbon capture and storage. The project will operate through a website, which will be a freely-available resource designed to promote discussion and identify legal developments in the UK and internationally.
More information here

21 March 2007
Budget 2007 Clears the Ways for UK's First CCS Plant
The Chancellor today delivered his 11th and likely final budget, setting out an ambitious scenario for the future of Britain's economy. Aspiring to be a world leader on CCS, Gordon Brown announced that the government "will launch a competition to develop the UK's first full-scale demonstration of carbon capture and storage". Further details of this competition will be announced in the Energy White Paper, expected in May.
View the Budget 2007 and associated documents.
View the DTI press release.
The Association welcomed the government's announcement with the following press release CCSA Budget 2007 Press Release 21 March 07.pdf

19 March 2007
Environmental Audit Committee Publishes Fourth Report
The findings of the Environmental Audit Committee's Inquiry into the Pre-Budget 2006 and the Stern Review have today been published. The Association provided written evidence to this Inquiry.
View the report here.

13 March 2007
Government Lays out Blueprint for Tackling Climate Change
The UK Government have today published the ambitious draft Climate Change Bill and strategy, setting out a framework for the move to a UK low-carbon economy. The draft bill includes a legally binding target for reducing carbon dioxide by 60% by 2050, as well as 3 five-year carbon budgets to provide long-term industry certainty to enable investment in low-carbon technologies such as carbon capture and storage. The draft Bill is open to open to public consultation, closing date for comments is the 12th June. Download the Climate Change Bill, consultation document and associated documents here.

13 March 2007
RWE npower Plans Clean Coal Power Station
Plans to build a new 1600MW clean coal power station has today been announced by CCSA member RWE npower, to replace the existing coal-fired power station in Tilbury, Essex. Estimated to be operational by 2013, the power station will cost over £1bn and will be designed to incorporate carbon capture and storage as well as facilities for burning biomass, thereby reducing carbon dioxide by almost two million tonnes per year. View the full press release.

6 March 2007
Launch of EU ETS Manifesto
Government, Business and NGO's have today launched the UK manifesto on the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, setting out the ambition for the development of the EU ETS after 2012. The manifesto, signed by over 40 businesses including the CCSA, aims to give the EU ETS a long term framework, enabling investment security in the carbon trading market.
View the manifesto and signatories.

26-27 February 2007
Presentations from Australian CCS and Emissions Trading Seminar
The two-day seminar "Carbon Capture & Storage and Emissions Trading- Working towards Business Opportunities in Australia, UK and Worldwide" was held this week in Melbourne, Australia, sponsored by UK Trade & Investment in cooperation with the CCSA and CO2CRC.
View the Presentations:

Day 1 Carbon Capture & Storage
Peter Cook Monday 1000 - Peter Cook.pdf
Peter Waller Monday 1100 - Peter Waller.pdf
Ian Walker Monday 1120 - Ian Walker.pdf
John Bradshaw Monday 1140 - John Bradshaw.pdf
Bill Koppe Monday 1200 - Bill Koppe.pdf
Simon Dawes Monday 1220 - Simon Dawes.pdf
Geoffrey Ingram Monday 1240 - Geoff Ingram.pdf
Jane Paxman Monday 1415 - Jane Paxman.pdf
Bill Spence Monday 1435 - Bill Spence.pdf
Tony White Monday 1600 - Anthony White.pdf
Jon Davis Monday 1620 - Jon Davis.pdf
Carmel Anderson Monday 1640 - Carmel Anderson.pdf

Day 2 Emissions Trading
Henry Derwent Tuesday 0910 - Henry Derwent.pdf
Anthea Harris Tuesday 0930 - Anthea Harris.pdf
James Morrison Tuesday 0950 - James Morrison.pdf
Bill Spence Tuesday 1010 - Bill Spence.pdf
Bruce Murnane Tuesday 1030 - Bruce Murnane.pdf
Paul Curnow Tuesday 1050 - Paul Curnow.pdf
Travis Hughes Tuesday 1110 - Travis Hughes.pdf
Andrew Petersen Tuesday 1140 - Andrew Petersen.pdf

8 February 2007
Total Announces first Integrated CCS Project in France
The oil and gas group, Total, have today announced the launch of a carbon capture and sequestration pilot project in southwestern France. The project will use oxy-fuel combustion and will inject almost 150,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into a depleted hydrocarbon field. View the full News Release.

2 February 2007
IPCC Releases 4th Assessment Report
Concluding the 10th Session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working Group I in Paris last week, the IPCC has adopted the Summary for Policymakers of Climate Change 2007: The Physcial Science Basis, setting out the scientific background to climate change, its changes and causes, as well as future projections for further changes. View the Summary.

10 January 2007
European Commission Unveils Strategic Energy Review
EC President Jose Manuel Barroso today published the European Commission's Strategic Energy Review, setting out a radical energy policy for EU with the objective of a sustainable, competitive and secure supply of energy. The Review sets an EU target for a 20% cut in carbon emissions by 2020 (below 1990) and proposes a global target for all developed countries of 30% in the same period. In terms of carbon capture and storage, the Commission will design a mechanism to ensure that by 2015, 12 sustainable fossil fuel power plants are in operation, as well as a proposal that all new coal-fired plants built after 2020 should include carbon capture and storage.
View the Strategic Energy Review and Associated Documents.

January 2007
New Database of Developments Towards 2050
The DTI Office of Science and Innovation's Horizon Scanning Centre have commissioned two new databases; Delta Scan and Sigma Scan. The latter contains a number of Issue Papers describing trends, emerging issues and developments for the next 50 years, which could affect the future of the UK. View the Issue Papers on Carbon Capture and Storage;
Clean, green machines: The advent of the carbon-lite economy
Emission suppression: Reducing carbon emissions through sequestration

2006

6 December 2006
Disappointing News for CCS in Pre-Budget Report
The Chancellor today released his Pre-Budget Report (PBR), setting out the objectives behind the UK's budget for the coming year. The PBR contained no commitment for an incentives package to support new CCS projects, and announced that the Government will "tender for consulting engineers to ensure that the Government's understanding of the costs of CCS plant based in the UK is robust", and to help Government assess which measure should be created to support a demonstration project. A decision to build a demonstration project will be taken in 2007 following a second consultation. View the PBR and associated documents here.
The Association have issued a press release CCSA HMT PBR Press Release 6 Dec 06.pdf

4 December 2006
UK Cross-Party Committee calls on Chancellor to Increase Funding for CCS and Renewables
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has today published a letter sent to the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, asking for increased funding for research and development in carbon capture and storage and renewables, as well as tax incentives for energy efficiency. View the full letter.

December 2006
New Report on Capture-Ready Plant
As part of the work under the DTI Carbon Abatement Technologies Programme, DTI and the Institution of Chemical Engineers have published the report "Survey of Power Station Contractors", setting out findings from a survey of 10 UK contractors to determine their willingness to establish carbon dioxide capture-ready power plant. Read the full report.

December 2006
'Bridging To The Future' Newsletter No.6 Published
Vattenfall have published their latest issue of their newsletter covering their R&D work for a carbon dioxide free power plant. More information on the project can be found on the website. Read the Newsletter.

8 November 2006
Centrica Enters Agreement with Progressive Energy on Clean Coal Project
The UK's first complete clean coal power plant is one step further in development, as Centrica today announced an agreement with Progressive Energy to build a Clean Coal power station in Teesside, UK- the first project to combine Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) and Carbon Capture and Storage technologies. Centrica will obtain a per cent interest in two new joint companies; development company Coastal Energy and Coots Limited, a carbon dioxide pipeline company, that together will obtain the rights to construct the power station. View the full press release.

8 November 2006
Major Step for CCS as CO2 Storage is approved under London Protocol
Carbon Capture and Storage received a significant boost last week when an amendment to the London Convention was passed, allowing carbon storage in sub-seabed geological formations. The first meeting of Contracting Parties to the London Protocol took place from 30 October to 3 November and the amendment will enter into force 100 days after adoption- 10 February 2007. View the IMO press briefing.

3 November 2006
New Report Outlines Solutions to CDM Barriers to CCS
The International Energy Agency has this wek published the draft report "Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage in the Clean Development Mechanisms, Possibly Approaches to CDM Methodology Issues", addressing the issues for CCS to be allowed under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism. The next COP/MOP meeting of the UNFCCC in Nairobi, starting next week, is expected to reach a decision on whether CCS will be allowed under the CDM. If allowed, CCS projects in developing countries could generate credits already in the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, 2008-2012.

November 2006
UKERC Publishes CCS Workshop Report
Following the workshop "Carbon Capture and Storage Opportunities in a New Europe" on the 27th September, the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC), together with the British Geological Survey, have published a summary report of the workshop, covering the presentations given at the workshop as well as the open discussion. View the report and further details of the workshop here.

30 October 2006
Stern Review Recognises Importance of CCS
HM Treasury has today published the much-awaited "Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change" commissioned by the Chancellor last July and carried out by Sir Nicholas Stern. As expected, the report concludes that the damage of climate change could cost 20% of GDP or more, whereas the cost of taking action now could be close to 1% of GDP per year. The review emphasises the importance of carbon capture and storage, as an essential technology to "reconcile the use of coal with the emissions reductions necessary for stabilising greeenhouse gases in the atmosphere" given that cheap fossil fuels, particularly coal, will continue to play a significant role in the global mix, especially in fast-growing economies. View the full report, press release and supporting documents here.

28 October 2006
US Announces $450 million for Coal Research
US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman has announced a grant programme of $450 million (euro 355 million) over the next 10 years towards research into "technology that would lessen the environmental impacts of coal use". The Department of Energy has recognised that carbon capture and storage could play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ensuring the "continued environmentally responsible use of coal". View the full article.

25 October 2006
Australia gives major funding boost for CCS project
Australia has today announced the first two projects under a new $500 million Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund (LETDF). A $360 million pilot brown coal drying and post-combustion carbon capture and storage plant has been allocated $50 million, as one of the two projects to receive support under the Victorian state government fund. Read the full story.

25 October 2006
Proceedings from the 2nd IEA/CSLF Workshop on Legal Aspects of Carbon Capture and Storage
Following the first workshop in July 2004, the International Energy Agency and Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum held a second Workshop in Paris on 17 October 2006. View the proceedings including a discussion paper for comment.

24 October 2006
World Business Comes Together on Sustainable Development
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) today released the report 'Powering a Sustainable Future', part of the second phase of the WBCSD Sector Project on Electricity Utilities set up in 2005. The report sets out an "agenda for concerted action" on issues of electricity generation, including security of supply, power to the people and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. As well as a number of 'Facts and trends' on key power technologies covered in the report, the project has also produced more detailed Issue briefs on the technologies, one of which is Carbon Capture and Storage. Download the report and associated documents.

19 October 2006
2nd Issue of World Energy Book Published
Following the publication of the 1st issue of the World Energy Book in Autumn 2005, the World Energy Council have today published the 2nd issue. The latest issue includes an article on Carbon Capture and Storage; "CCS: research is not enough". Download both issues of the book.

18 October 2006
Defra Publishes Marine Bill Newsletter
The fourth issue of the Marine Bill Newsletter was published today, setting out a short summary of responses to the Government's Marine Bill Consultation. Download the latest issue and past issues.

12 October 2006
EU wants to fast-track clean coal technology
The second plenary meeting of the Fossil Fuels Forum held on 10 October in Berlin came to an agreement that "new coal-fired power stations should anticipate the arrival of CO2 capture and storage" as early as 2010, and should be built as 'capture-ready' enabling later retrofitting of CCS. The Forum, which is made up of stakeholders in the coal industry and the EU Commission, agreed that new EU policies are urgently needed to fast-track commercial demonstration of Carbon Capture and Storage technologies. View the full article.

11 October 2006
E.ON UK plans to Build new Supercritical Coal-Fired Units
Plans for the UK's first 'supercritical' coal-fired power plant have been submitted by E.ON UK. The two 800MW coal-fired units would be built next to E.ON's existing coal plant at Kingsnorth in Kent, which is due to close by 2015. In addition to saving 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year compared with the existing plant, the units would also be designed as capture-ready to enable Carbon Capture and Storage technology to be fitted at a later date. View the full press release.

6 October 2006
CCS Could be Exempt from the EU ETS from 2008
A UK ministry official has today announced that storing carbon underground may become economical under the second phase of EU Emissions Trading Scheme (2008-12). At present, any fossil fuel plant using CCS to reduce its emissions, would be treated as if the stored CO2 were emitted. Defra officials are in discussions with the European Commission to ensure that such plant will be "treated fairly treated in phase 2, in some way recognising the storage element". In the UK, an exemption could apply to some or all the six proposed CCS projects, generating a total of 4 GW of electricity. View the full story.

6 October 2006
Large Amount of Carbon Dioxide Storage Capacity found Underground in Kentucky
Conclusions of a 3-year research project at the University of Kentucky has found that Devonian black shales, organic-rich rocks found underneath a large part of Kentucky, could provide "a potentially large geological reservoir for capture CO2". The research further concluded that as much as 28 billion tonnes of injected CO2 could be sequestered with an additional value of enhancing natural gas recovery where injection occurs in gas-producing shales. Download the full article.

6 October 2006
Emphasis on Benefits of Carbon Capture and Storage
Reuters have published two articles on CCS. The first 'Analysis Carbon Capture: Climate Saviour?' focuses on the ability of CCS to become "humanity's number one weapon to fight global warming" whilst the second article 'EU-wide carbon capture incentive' discusses the move to include CCS in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

October 2006
New Journal from the Institution of Civil Engineers
A new journal for 2007 entitled 'Energy' is to be published by ICE. The journal will aim to cover "all aspects of the planning, design, construction, maintenance, operation and decommissioning of projects for the generation, conservation, distribution and more efficient use of energy". VIew the website and call for papers.

October 2006
Presentations from HSE Carbon Capture and Storage Event
The Health & Safety Executive in association with the Energy Institute held a workshop on the 24 July entitled 'Carbon Capture and Storage - Health, Safety and Environment Issues'.
Read the notes from the workshop HSE-EI workshop notes 24 July 2006.doc
Download all five presentations:
Martin Maeso
Dr Gordon Newsholme
Tim Hill
Molly Anderson
Dr Julia Race

October 2006
New HFCCAT Demonstration Programme to go Live
The Government launched the £50m Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, Carbon Abatement Technologies (HFCCAT) Demonstration Programme on the 19 September 2006, with a speech by The Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks. The programme is designed to demonstrate technologies that significantly reduce the carbon emissions associated with burning fossil fuels. The first call begins on the 23 October. For further details, key documents and events, visit the website www.hfccat-demo.org. View a 2-page update on available funding for CAT technologies HFCCAT Summary of programme for CAT Oct 06.doc.

October 2006
Second IEA Workshop on Carbon Storage
The IEA are holding the "2nd IEA Workshop on Legal Aspects of Storing CO2" in Paris on the 17 October 2006, in association with the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum. View the agenda and contact details.

29 September 2006
PWC Report: Cabon Capture is Key to Fight Emissions Rise
The new report entitled "The World in 2050: Impact of global growth on carbon emissions and climate change policy" focuses on two out of 6 scenarios, a baseline 'business as usual' scenario and a 'Green Growth + CCS' scenario. The report concludes that the baseline scenario could result in more than a doubling of global carbon emissions by 2050, whereas the 'Green Growth + CCS' scenario, which assumes a widespread use of CCS technologies, would stabilise CO2 concentrations to current acceptable levels for 2050.
Read the report

25 September 2006
Worlds first Oxy-Fuel Clean Coal Retrofit scheme announced
Jupiter Oxygen, together with the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority and Orrville Utilities, have today announced plans to commence work on the first oxy-fuel clean coal plant. The new plant will be a retrofit of an already operating electric power plant in Ohio, USA. As well as being designed as CO2 capture ready, the plant will also meet 2020 goals for emissions of mercury, NOx, SOx and particulates. View the full press release.

September 2006
Documents and Presentations from the ETP ZEP General Assembly
The European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants (ETP ZEP) held its first General Assembly on 12-13 September in Brussels. The General Assembly proved a successful event, with the adoption of both the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) and the Strategic Deployment Document (SDD).

The ETP brings together the European Commission, the European energy industry, research community, and non-governmental organisations, and its goal is to the develop and deploy new competitive options for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plant.

The full programme and presentations of the General Assembly can be viewed here. Download the latest drafts of the SRA and the SDD documents.

14 September 2006
DTI Launches New Energy Technologies Institute
The DTI have today published the prospectus for the planned Energy Technologies Institute, inviting expressions of interest from the private sector to participate in setting up the Institute. The Government have committed £500m to the Institute which will focus on R&D projects "including R&D in support of demonstration and eventual deployment".

Further information on the following webpage and full DTI press release.

27 July 2006
Miliband Calls for Ideas on EU ETS post-2012
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has sent out a letter requesting ideas and suggestions on the long-term design of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) post-2012.
Read the letter SoS Future EU ETS manifesto July 2006.doc
Read the CCSA response EU ETS Milliband Letter.doc

26 May 2006
Member Meeting of the CCSA
The CCSA held the first full members meeting of the Association on the 19th May. See members area for agenda & meeting minutes.

24 March 2006
Energy Review Stakeholder Seminar on CCS
The DTI held its 8th Energy Review stakeholder seminar in Middlesborough on Carbon Capture and Storage. Hosted by Malcolm Wicks, the seminar covered the potential role for CCS in the UK's long term energy policy as well as solutions, barriers and timescales for CCS deployment.
Read the seminar Summary, List of attendees and Presentation by Paul McIntyre.