C02 storage plans for North Sea
Plans to store carbon dioxide in depleted North Sea oil and gas fields have been announced by the Government.
Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said that new technologies would help tackle climate change.
The storage of carbon dioxide could begin by 2015 and the Government estimates that capture and storage could reduce power plant emissions by up to 85 per cent.
He also announced £40 million of funding for emerging low-carbon technologies designed to ensure cleaner electricity generation from oil and gas and funding for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.
But the announcement is sure to unnerve some environmental groups who are worried that the focus may be shifting away from reducing emissions.
Climate change is set to be one of the key focuses of July’s G8 summit. But there is next-to-no chance of the Americans signing up to emission reduction targets. President George Bush has said that he wants to focus instead on emergent technologies.
Speaking at the Royal Institution, Mr Wicks said: “Reaching our ambitious target of cutting carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050 means taking action now to support emerging technologies that will enable us to burn coal and gas more cleanly.
“At the same time, with major expansion of coal fired power generation expected in China and India, we want to put the UK at the forefront of what could be a valuable new export opportunity.”
He added: “We must, of course, maintain the push toward renewables and energy efficiency that deliver cuts in emissions here and now. But cleaning up our use of fossil fuels, developing the vast potential of hydrogen and fuel cells, and keeping UK industry on the front foot is a vital long term objective.”
