ScottishPower Chief Executive Nick Horler addresses WWF Parliamentary Reception
On the eve of the publication of DECC’s consultation, ‘A framework for the development of clean coal’, ScottishPower chief executive Nick Horler addressed a parliamentary reception in the House of Commons organised by WWF and Christian Aid where he outlined the energy company’s commitment to be at the forefront of the development of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology.
At the event Mr Horler underlined the importance of proving CCS technology on a commercial scale as quickly as possible in order to make a significant impact on the emissions of the 50,000 fossil fuel power station currently operating across the world.
Nick Horler said: “There is no denying that coal is in plentiful supply and it currently provides the UK with a highly flexible and secure supply of electricity. But it is a major source of CO2 pollution. Can’t live with it…can’t, for now, live without it.
“The belief that CCS will play a major role in the battle against climate change is recognised amongst global policymakers. CCS features prominently in all the main blueprints for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“By using our existing plant at Longannet on the Firth of Forth, we can have a post combustion, retrofitable demonstration project at 330MW up and running by 2014. The amount of CO2 removed from Longannet during the demonstration would be the equivalent to taking one million cars off the road each year.
“Proving this technology at scale and, crucially, proving that it can be retrofitted to existing plant such as Longannet power station, will mean it could be installed to an estimated 50,000 existing fossil fuel plant around the world. This would be a huge step towards reaching global C02 reduction targets and addressing the carbon lock-in from these stations.”
Notes to Editors:
ScottishPower is one of the leaders in the UK Government’s competition to develop a commercial scale Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project.
ScottishPower recently switched-on a prototype carbon capture test unit at Longannet power station in Fife - the first time anywhere in the UK that carbon capture technology has been working on a coal fired power station. This will help prove the chemistry of carbon capture and uses the same technology that can be retrofitted by 2014 as part of the UK Government’s CCS competition.
ScottishPower’s parent company Iberdrola, the fourth largest energy company in the world, recently confirmed that it will establish a global Centre of Excellence to develop CCS technology in the UK. As part of this the company will be funding a Chair in Carbon Capture and Storage at the University of Edinburgh to provide a academic focus for the Centre of Excellence.
WWF recently published a report entitled: "Carbon choices - options for demonstrating carbon capture and storage on the UK power sector" which is available to view at: http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/carbon_choices2.pdf
The DECC consultation, ‘A framework for the development of clean coal’, estimates that clean coal technology could bring between £2-4 billion a year into the UK economy by 2030, and support between 30,000-60,000 skilled jobs.
Media Information: Simon McMillan, 0141 566 4875 / 07753 622 257