UK Carbon Capture Success
With a worldwide drive towards clean coal technologies, Scottish Power have reported the UK’s first test of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) at an operational coal fired power station.
The prototype plant, as small scale replica of the final proposed CCS plant was put into operation at the end of May at Longannet power station, allowing the company to test the chemistry involved in capturing Carbon Dioxide from power station flue gases. The project is part of a programme to deliver a full project by 2014. A full scale installation at Longannet would aim to lock approximately 90% of carbon emissions, equivalent to removing one million cars from the road.
The technology, if successful, would see carbon emissions captured into a solvent and subsequently stored underground. Current thinking suggests that depleted oil fields under the central North Sea have the capacity to store all of Europes captured carbon well into the next century.
Paul Malam, Partner in Carter Jonas' Minerals & Waste Management Division and member of the firms Energy Team commented: “This is excellent news for the UK energy industry and for coal extraction going forward. Despite the closure of much of the UK coalfield in the 1980s, the country still has one of the largest resources of unworked coal in Europe, with supplies estimated at 200 years”
“Using coal to produce energy in it’s current form clearly goes against the need to reduce carbon emissions on a global scale. With a technological race ongoing to seek sources of clean energy, any process that is capable of utilising such a large coal resource, with limited emissions must form a valuable part of the energy sector in the future.”
The test plant has been met with congratulations from the Prime Minister who welcomed Scottish Power's response to the climate change agenda.
Paul MalamMRICS, FIQ
Head of Minerals and Waste Management Division
Paul is a Partner and Head of the Minerals and Waste Management Division providing specialist advice throughout the UK on all matters relating to minerals and waste management developments. In par...
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Paul is a Partner and Head of the Minerals and Waste Management Division providing specialist advice throughout the UK on all matters relating to minerals and waste management developments. In particular, he offers advice on strategic development appraisal, site acquisition and disposal, planning and valuation on behalf of both operators / manufacturers and private landowning clients. He sits on the CBI Minerals Group and both the British Ceramic Confederation Rating panel and land and property group, representing clients interests and assisting in lobbying on policy affecting the sector. In his spare time, Paul enjoys long distance and hill walking, and recently led a Carter Jonas team on a 40 mile trek across the North Yorkshire Moors for charity. To relax, he enjoys watching Lancashire County Cricket Club, where he is a member.
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