Climate change committee issues warning on Longannet carbon capture scheme
A cutting-edge carbon capture and storage programme planned for Longannet Power Station could miss its start date unless promised government funding is approved immediately.
- By Stefan Morkis
- Published in the Courier : 05.07.11
- Published online : 05.07.11 @ 01.50pm
The warning was made by the coalition's independent advisors, the Committee on Climate Change, in their 2011 progress report, published last week.
The Fife plant was in a two-horse race with E.ON to develop the UK's first commercial scale CCS project — however, E.ON withdrew from the competition last October, leaving the ScottishPower scheme the only one left in the running for government funding.
Despite this, the government has still not announced if the money will be approved.
The Committee on Climate Change has now warned further delays could mean the Longannet scheme misses its proposed start date of 2016, and could push back the timetable for building three further CCS projects in the UK.
They claim this will then make it harder for the UK to meet its carbon reduction targets
The report states, "There is a risk of slippage on carbon capture and storage demonstration, which should be addressed if this potentially important technology is to be developed for roll-out in the 2020s.
"It is crucial now that the first project is signed, and that the second set of projects is taken forward through early clarification of funding and commencement of the bidding process, with selection of the winning projects in 2012.
"The process for awarding funding is yet to be concluded, with a need to reach final agreement quickly if the first demonstration plant is to become operational by 2016."
Last week's progress report also found that emissions in the UK rose by 3% last year, which was blamed on the extremely cold winter weather.
'Ludicrous' wait
The previous Labour government launched the CCS competition four years ago and WWF Scotland said it is ludicrous that it has taken so long for the final funding programme to be agreed.
Dr Sam Gardner, climate change policy officer at WWF Scotland, said, "The committee roundly criticise the UK Government for the ridiculous length of time it has taken to get the UK moving on carbon capture and storage.
"The government's £1bn competition has been running for four years and has turned into farce. The only credible entry left is the proposal for a full-scale trial of carbon capture at Longannet.
"This is an important project, and the UK Government should stop messing about and give it the go ahead as soon as possible.
"Although CCS is not essential for the Scottish Government to achieve its promise of a decarbonised power sector by 2030, it could be an important component in the growth of low carbon jobs and be a valuable export story in coming years."
Dunfermline and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty said he believes an agreement between the UK government and Scottish Power's parent company, Iberdrola, will be reached soon.
He said, "I met with Lord Marland, the minister for energy, last Tuesday to discuss it and we had a very productive meeting and I expect an announcement from them by the time the House rises in the middle of July."
Mr Docherty warned that CCS will be vital to Scotland's future energy requirement. He said, "If we don't have it then the lights will go out in Scotland because of the SNP's energy policies."
04.50pm - 06.07.2011 Mike Stirling - Forfar, Scotland, nuclear free with SNP. Report This
This is an important project, and the UK Government should stop messing about and give it the go ahead as soon as possible. "If we don't have it then the lights will go out in Scotland because of the SNP's energy policies." Amazingly transparent porkies Mr. Docherty!!
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