By Cameron Chai
In order to develop innovative solutions in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, Edward Davey, the Energy Secretary has announced that a £20 million competition will be conducted.
Bids are being called for, to help design high-quality and economical CCS systems and components for demonstrations at the pilot scale. For the UK to satisfy its targets of climate change and minimize emissions, it is absolutely essential that CCS is developed to a significant extent. Once the innovative solutions are designed, they can be made a part of the UK supply chain and will help bring down the cost of upcoming deployment of CCS in the UK. By the end of 2020, it is expected that this industry will be worth as high as £6.5 billion annually.
Under the CCS commercialization programme of the DECC, the UK has set apart £1 billion for funding CCS projects at the commercial level and this competition worth £20 million will complement the same. In the coming weeks, a competition for the CCS commercialization programme will also be launched.
According to Edward Davey, carbon capture and storage is expected to play a critical role in making sure that a low carbon energy mix is developed in the UK. He said that the first carbon capture pilot inaugurated at Ferrybridge last year proved that CCS helps create a large number of jobs and facilitates growth. Services and components for that project were provided by over 20 UK-based firms. This competition aims at achieving cost-effective CCS by the 2020s by sustaining R&D. This amount is one part of a £125 million, CCS R& D programme led by the Government, spanning a period of four years. This cross-government programme is offered by the Energy Technologies Institute, the Technology Strategy Board, Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Research Councils.
Source: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/