2008
30 June 2008
UK Government Launches CCS Consultation
The UK Government today launched their CCS regulatory consultation, covering
the regulation of storage sites, capture-readiness and the EU CCS Directive.
In addition, the shortlist of pre-qualified bidders for the CCS demonstration
competition was also announced, with the winner expected to be named mid 2009.
View the CCS
consultation and press
release.
The Association welcomed the consultation with the following press
release and Incentives
position paper.
View the Association's full
response to the consultation.
16 June 2008
Cameron Signals Strong Support for CCS
David Cameron today gave the strongest Conservative support for CCS in a speech
to environmental leaders, announcing that a Conservative Government will implement
a Californian model of an Emissions Performance Standard and utilise revenue
from the auctioning of EU ETS allowances "to fund at lease three CCS
demonstration projects over the next five to ten years".
Read the full
speech.
11 June 2008
EU ETS Directive Draft Report Published
Avril Doyle MEP, the rapporteur for the proposed EU Directive to improve and
extend the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, has today published her report on
the Directive, which will be submitted to other MEPs for consideration and
voting later in the year. In her report, MEP Doyle has proposed various measures
to incentivise CCS projects through the EU ETS mechanism. View the full
report.
9 June 2008
New Blog on CCS Debates in Brussels
Mark Johnston of E3G has launched his new blog that will report on CCS debates
in Brussels. The blog aims to open an effective, independent channel of communication
that will reach those with interests in policy and legislation. View the blog.
6 June 2008
IEA Calls for Investment in Clean Energy
The International Energy Agency has today published its report entitled ‘Now
or never: IEA energy technology perspectives’, warning that business-as-usual
scenarios will result in CO2 emissions rising by 130% and oil demand increases
of 70% by 2050. The report contains global roadmaps for development and deployment
of key energy technologies in order to either see current emissions levels
in 2050 or to achieve 50% reductions on current levels by 2050. The report
estimates that on average 35 coal and 20 gas-fired power stations with CCS
would be needed every year between 2010 and 2050 amongst other technologies
that are all essential to reach the emissions targets. View the press
release.
6 June 2008
Yorkshire Forward Published Report on CCS Network
CCSA Member Yorkshire Forward together with several other CCSA members have
today released a report concuding the study on how a CCS network for the Yorkshire
and Humber region can be developed. The region is home to a number of the
UK's largest power stations and, once complete, could store up to 60 million
tonnes of carbon emissions from the regions fossil fuel power plants.
View the full
report and press
release.
5 June 2008
EU CCS Directive Draft Report Published
Chris Davies MEP, the rapporteur for the proposed EU Directive on the geological
storage of carbon dioxide, has today published his report on the Directive,
where he calls for all existing fossil fuel power plants to be fitted with
CCS by 2025 as well as proposing that no new power plants should be built
after 2015 that are unable to reduce at least 90% of their carbon dioxide
emissions. It is expected that the report will achieve first reading adoption
in the plenary debate in September. View the full
report.
Chris Davies held a press conference on the 6th May setting out his top priorities
for the report and the Association responded with the following press
release.
28 May 2008
GE and Schlumberger Sign Carbon Sequestration Alliance
CCSA members GE Energy and Schlumberger have signed an alliance agreement
to accelerate the commercial development and deployment of ‘cleaner
coal’ technology. The agreement brings together GE’s expertise
with IGCC technology and Schlumberger’s expertise on CO2 Storage. GE
stated that “Under this new arrangement, our companies will align the
technical needs of capture and storage for high operability and work in concert
to offer customers a cost effective solution that will provide a complete
answer for IGCC with CCS that can be readily implemented under the proper
regulatory framework.” View the press
release.
18 May 2008
New Website on CCS Regulation in EU and China
The STRACO2 Consortium have today launched their new Project Website, providing
a communication platform for their project on CCS Regulation in EU and China.
View the website http://www.euchina-ccs.org.
15 May 2008
Shell Joins IEA’s Canadian CCS project
CCSA member Shell has joined several other companies in sponsoring the IEA
CCS research project in Canada. The $80 million Weyburn-Midale CO2 Monitoring
and Storage Project is in its final phase of investigating the long-term storage
of CO2 in mature oil reservoirs. Mr Collyer, President of Shell Canada commented
that “This research will further understanding about the safety and
effectiveness of long-term underground storage of CO2 and enable the public
and regulatory agencies to make informed choices.” View the full
story and press
release.
6-7 May 2008
DOE Commits Significant Funds for CCS
The US Department of Energy has announced large amounts of funds towards CCS
as part of its Regional Sequestration Partnerships and FutureGen Clean Coal
Projects. Under its Regional Sequestration Partnerships, $126.6 million has
been awarded to the West Coast Regional Sequestration Partnership and the
Midwest Regional Sequestration Partnership for the fifth and sixth of seven
awards for projects that will test the storage of carbon dioxide. Under the
restructured FutureGen project, the DOE has allocated $1.3 billion towards
multiple coal-fired power plants with CCS, with projects expected to be selected
by December. View the DOE
carbon sequestration page, Regional
Sequestration Partnership press release, and FutureGen
article.
5 May 2008
ExxonMobil Plans to Build CCS Demonstration Plant
The oil company ExxonMobil has today announced a commitment of more
than $100 million (£50 million) towards a CCS demonstration project
that will remove carbon dioxide from natural gas. The project, to be based
in Wyoming, will use a technology entitled Controlled Freeze Zone (CFZ), which
freezes and then melts the carbon dioxide, thereby removing other unwanted
components as well. The plant is expected to being operation in 2009. View
the full press
release.
1 May 2008
Scotland Introduces Consent Motion on CCS Regulation
The Scottish Government has today introduced a Legislative Consent
Motion to allow a common regulatory framework for CCS to be introduced across
the UK. A Memorandum of Understanding will be developed between the UK Government
and the Scottish Government to implement the common framework and a consultation
on a licensing regime is expected in the summer. View the full press
release.
22 April 2008
Carbon Dioxide Injection Begins at Snohvit
CCSA member StatoilHydro today began carbon dioxide
injection and storage at the Snohvit field outside Hammerfest, Norway. At
full capacity, the project will store 700,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, and
represents the second large CCS project in Norway for StatoilHydro after the
Sleipner project, which already stores 1million tonnes of CO2 per year. View
the full news
release.
15 April 2008
Alberta Plans Large CCS Project
A partnership between ARC Resources Ltd and the Alberta Research Council
have today announced the start of research into a CCS plant that could store
over 1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. $1.8 million has been allocated to
the research, which will cover 3 phases, the first of which is to investigate
the geology of the Redwater reef northeast of Edmonton. View the full article.
11 April 2008
TransAlta and Alstom Agree joint work on CCS Project
An agreement has been signed between TransAlta Corp and Alstom (CCSA
member) to develop a large scale CCS project in Alberta. The first phase of
the project, will focus on advancing and improving the understanding of CCS
technology, and will cost $12 million. Testing is expected to begin in 2012.
View the full article.
3 April 2008
Defra Publishes Draft Marine Bill
Defra have today published the draft Marine Bill for consultation -
which will close on the 26th June 2008. One of the key issues included in
the Bill is the creation of a Marine Management Organisation (MMO) which may
impact on CCS legislation. View the draft
Marine Bill and associated documents.
2 April 2008
CO2CRC Launches CCS Project in Western Victoria
Australia today launched its first CCS project in Western Victoria
as injection of carbon dioxide began at the CO2CRC Otway CCS facility. The
project will inject 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide at a depth of 2km and
is internationally recognised as a Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF)
project. Project partners include various public and private organisations,
with monitoring technology partly provided by the US Department of Energy.
View the full CO2CRC
press release and ABC
News article.
1 April 2008
EU Framework Programme 6 European Research Area Network Publishes 1st Call
for R&D
The FENCO-ERA NET Network, focussed on clean fossil energy, has today
launched its first call for Proposals for Collaborative Research Projects
on two themes relating to CCS. View the website
for more information.
31 March 2008
E.ON Announces Entry into the UK's CCS Competition
CCSA member E.ON has today announced that it will be an entrant into the UK
Government's CCS competition. This entry will be based on the proposed Kingsnorth
coal-fired power station in Kent, which is planned as two new, more efficient
CCS-ready 800MW units. View the full press
release.
20 March 2008
RWE Npower Announces CCS Project Partners
RWE npower (a CCSA member) has today announced a partnership with five companies
to build its proposed 1MW CCS demonstration project in Wales by 2010, scaling
up to a demonstration project of at 100MW as part of a cleaner coal power
station at Tilbury. The project partners include BOC, Cansolv Technologies
Inc, IM Skaugen, The Shaw Group and Tullow Oil plc, and form part of the proposal
for RWE npower's entry into the UK Government's competition to build the first
CCS demonstration plant in the UK. View the full press
release.
19 March 2008
BERR Co-Sponsors CO2 Storage Database
BERR and the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D programme have co-sponsored a Features,
Events and Process (FEP) database on geological CO2 storage. The database
aims to provide a central source of information and to support the long-term
safety and performance assessments of such storage. View the full
story.
12 March 2008
CCS in UK Budget 2008
The Chancellor has today delivered his first Budget to Government. Chapter
6: An Environmentally Sustainable World gives details of how the domestic
Environmental Transformation Fund will be allocated. This contains an allocation
to “renewable energy and low-carbon technologies (at least £200m)”
which includes CCS. The chapter also states that “BERR will shortly
announce a new call for expressions of interest under the Environmental Transformation
Fund to support the development of component parts of CCS.” View the
full report and
press notices.
27 February 2008
Canada Announces CCS Funding in Budget
Canada has announced funding for CCS as part of the Canadian Budget 2008.
This includes $240 million for Saskatchewan’s proposed full, commercial
scale CCS demonstration project at a coal-fired power station. The province
has agreed to share the results of this demonstration with the Canadian Government,
other provinces and industry. The Canadian Budget also provides $5 million
for geological research into potential storage sites in Nova Scotia and $5
million to the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy at
the University of Calgary to carry out work on the regulatory, economic and
technical issues surrounding CCS. View the Budget.
21 February 2008
ZEP Writes CCS letter to EU Commission
The European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants
(ZEP) has written to the EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs confirming
their belief that a network of CCS demonstration projects in the EU is essential
to ensuring that CCS is commercially viable by 2020. The letter also expresses
support for the policy direction given by the EC on CCS and states that the
companies represented by ZEP are ready to increase investment in CCS provided
that appropriate legal and financial frameworks are developed to stimulate
deployment of these commercial scale demonstration projects. View the letter.
18 February 2008
Alberta to have widespread CCS by 2015
Alberta’s Environment Ministry expects to see widespread commercial
use of CCS in the province by 2015 as a means of addressing the rising emissions
due to Alberta’s expanding oil sands industry. Alberta’s plan,
announced in January, to halve emissions by 2050 will be achieved largely
through use of CCS, and the deployment of CCS in the region will therefore
be needed by 2015. Alberta has also announced a CCS council to advise the
government and liaise with industry in developing suitable policy and partnerships.
View the full
story.
30 January 2008
New Report on Business Opportunities in Climate Change
The EEF and Deloitte have today released a report on how climate change is
creating billions of pounds in opportunities for manufacturing. The report
"Delivering the low-carbon economy: business opportunities for UK manufacturers"
estimates that the CCS business could be worth $40bn (£20bn) by 2030.
View the full report and press
release.
23 January 2008
EU Commission Releases Energy & Climate Package
The EU Commission have today set out a package of legislative proposals, which
will set the path towards an EU- wide cut in carbon dioxide emissions of 20%
by 2020. The package covers proposals on a range or measures, including several
Directives on; the extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme, the promotion
of renewable energy and CO2 storage, as well as a communication on supporting
early demonstration of sustainable fossil fuel power generation.
View the full Energy
& Climate Package and associated documents.
10 January 2008
UK Government Publishes Energy Bill
Following the Energy Review 2006 and the publication of the Energy White Paper
in 2007, the UK Government have today published their ambitious Energy Bill
which, amongst other things, proposes primary legislation to create a regulatory
framework for CCS.
View the Energy
Bill and associated documents.
The Association welcomed the White
Paper with the following press
release (pdf)
January 2008
IEA Booklet on Safety of CO2 Storage
The International Energy Agency have published a booklet "Geological
Storage of Carbon Dioxide - Staying Safely Underground".
View
the booklet (pdf)
2007
December 2007
CCSA Publishes Second Issue of "CCSA News"
The Association this month launches the second issue of "CCSA News",
reflecting a busy time for CCS since the first issue was launched in May,
including new project developments and progress on policy.
Download here
(pdf)
17 December 2007
Total to Share CCS Project Data with Indonesia
CCSA member Total has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Indonesia,
concerning the company’s CCS project in Lacq, France. Under the agreement
Indonesia will have access to data that Total collects from the Lacq pilot
project. View the full
story.
12 December 2007
North Sea CO2 Transport and Storage Infrastructure Study Published
The North Sea Basin Task Force, comprising of individuals representing the
Governments, public and private sectors of the UK and Norway, have today released
the report on the work of the North Sea CO2 transport and storage infrastructure
study. The study, which was commissioned in June 2006, was produced in association
with Element Energy, Poyry Energy and the British Geological Survey.
View the full
report.
29 November 2007
G8 Workshop backs Carbon Capture and Storage
A third G8/IEA/CSLF workshop on carbon capture and storage was held in Calgary
on the 29th November. The workshop - attended by governments, industry, environmental
NGOs and scientific representatives from over 15 countries - agreed a series
of recommendations to enable early global deployment of CCS. These recommendations
will be presented to the July 2008 meeting of G8 leaders in Japan.
The Association issued a joint press release with the Australian Coal Association
and the World Coal Institute welcoming the recommendations. Read
here (pdf)
26 November 2007
CBI Publishes New Climate Change Report
Concluding 10 months of work, the CBI Climate Change Task Force have today
released the report "Climate Change: Everyone's Business", setting
out priority areas for action to enable the UK to meeting carbon reduction
targets. Measures include removing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel
power plants, through a greater use of CCS. View the full
report.
22 November 2007
Major Science Report on Vital New Technologies
The Council for Science and Technology (CST) have today published the report
"Strategic decision making for technology policy" highlighting six
key new technologies that are central to the UK's future prosperity, the first
of which is CCS.
VIew the full
report.
19 November 2007
Prime Minister Launces UK CCS Competition
The Prime Minster, in his speech on climate change to WWF, today launched
the UK Competition to build the first commercial CCS project "demonstrating
the full chain of CO2 capture, transport and storage". It is estimated
that a preferred bidder will be appointed in 2009.
More information and related documents here.
6 November 2007
Queens Speech Announces Forthcoming Energy Bill
The Queen today gave her annual speech to Parliament, setting out the Government's
legislative agenda for the next year. Included in the speech is an announcement
on the forthcoming Energy Bill, which will "create a regulatory frameork
to enable private sector investment in CCS projects". View the Energy
Bill brief and associated
webpage.
5 November 2007
IPPR Publishes Research Reports on UK Emissions Target
Two new reports simultaneously published today by the Institute for Public
Policy Research (IPPR) set out the possibility of the UK achieving an 80%
cut in CO2 emissions by 2050 and what would be needed to achieve such a cut.
The report 80% Challenge: Delivering a low-carbon UK, jointly written by the
IPPR, WWF and RSPB looks at domestic measures to achieve the desired cut,
including "switching to low-carbon technologies in the electricity sector...alongside
a roll out of new Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies". View
both reports here.
9 October 2007
Further Details on Government CCS Competition Announced
Alongside the Pre-Budget Report, which was released today, the Department
for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform today announced further details
on the UK Government's Competition to build a CCS plant in the UK (to be launched
in November).
View the announcement
as well as associated
documents on the Competition.
The Association responded with the following press
release (pdf)
28 September 2007
Yorkshire Cultivates Green Image
A study into Carbon Capture and Storage in Yorkshire has today been launched
by CCSA member Yorkshire Forward. The largest study into CCS in the UK, the
steering group consists of key partners BP, Shell, E.ON, Drax and Scottish
and Southern Energy and brings together the three coal-fired power stations
in the region, Drax, Ferrybridge and Eggborough. View the full
article.
27 September 2007
New South Wales to Build CCS Plant
The state government of New South Wales have today announced a new $5 million
carbon capture plant to be built on the central coast. The plant aims to pave
the way for a much larger $150 million demonstration project, which could
capture over 50,000 tonness of carbon dioxide per year.
View the full
story.
30 August 2007
Government Publishes Coal Forum Report
The Government have today released a report on the work of the UK Coal Forum
from November 2006 to June 2007. The report emphasises the importance of modern
coal-fired power, with the ability to make a contribution to security of supply,
competitiveness and sustainability. View the full
report.
26 June 2007
Green light for CCS as OSPAR Approves Amendment
The last barrier to the storage of CO2 in the sub-seabed
was today removed as 1992 OSPAR Convention to protect the marine environment
of the North-East Atlantic approved an amendment to allow "all forms
of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in sub-seabed geological formations".
The amendment was led by the UK, Norway and the Netherlands and follows a
similar amendment to the London Convention, which came into force on 1st February
2007. View the full press
release.
22 June 2007
Alstom and Statoil to Test new Capture Technology in Norway
CCSA members Alstom and Statoil have today signed a contract to test new chilled
ammonia technology for CO2 capture designed by Alstom. The technology is particularly
applicable for natural gas combined cycle power plants and will be tested
as a 40MW facility at Statoil's Mongstad refinery in Norway. Initially, the
facility will capture at least 80,000 tones of CO2 per year, with technological
advances leading to development of a larger capture facility able to capture
over 2 million tons of CO2 per year. View the full
article.
June 2007
North Sea Basin Task Force Publishes First Report
The joint UK/Norway North Sea Basin Task Force, set up in November 2005 has
published its first deliverable report on the issues surrounding transport
and storage of CO2 under the North Sea. View the full
report.
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)
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.
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
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.
