• By 2014, through retrofitting CCS technology to ScottishPower’s existing coal plant at Longannet, the Company can demonstrate on a large scale, a fully operational carbon capture and storage system capable of being deployed in the UK and around the world



• Using an existing coal station to demonstrate CCS will deliver a genuine reduction in existing CO2 emissions. Proving this retrofittable technology can provide a solution to drastically reduce emissions from estimated 50,000 fossil fuel plants worldwide



• ScottishPower, part of Iberdrola - already a world leader in wind power – has committed to make the UK its global centre of excellence for CCS development, maximising the benefits for UK jobs and skills.



• Longannet is the best place to prove CCS because of its proximity to the abundant and flexible storage in the Central North Sea, which could offer enough storage for the UK and possibly Europe’s CO2 emissions well into the next century

ScottishPower, who are leading the way on the reduction of CO2 emissions through carbon capture and storage, welcomed the Government’s Budget 2009 announcement on developing “a new and more ambitious” CCS policy including its intention to fund up to four CCS demonstrations and supporting companies in the current competition to undertake detailed preparatory studies.

Commenting on this aspect of the Government’s Budget 2009, ScottishPower Chief Executive Nick Horler said: “In such difficult economic times, we welcome the Government’s renewed and additional commitment to demonstrating carbon capture and storage, recognising the tremendous opportunity the UK has to lead the world with this technology and create new skills, jobs and opportunities for growth in the low carbon sector.

“Continued momentum on the demonstration project and investment in a UK skills base, is essential for the UK to take a real advantage in this emerging market and continue to lead the world in emission reductions.

“ScottishPower, part of Iberdrola - already a world leader in wind power – has committed to make the UK its global centre of excellence for CCS development, maximising the benefits for UK jobs and skills.

“By 2014, through retrofitting CCS technology to our existing coal plant at Longannet, ScottishPower can demonstrate on a large scale, a fully operational carbon capture and storage system capable of being deployed in the UK and around the world.

“We believe Longannet is the best place to prove CCS because of its proximity to the abundant and flexible storage in the Central North Sea, which could offer enough storage for the UK and possibly Europe’s CO2 emissions well into the next century.

“We have identified three emitting hubs which could readily access this storage potential- Forth Valley, Humberside and Teeside. Potentially every power station, CHP, foundry and refinery in these areas could access this storage. For the Forth Valley alone this amounts to an estimated 12-15M/t of CO2 per year.

“Using an existing coal station to demonstrate CCS will deliver a genuine reduction in existing CO2 emissions. Proving this retrofittable technology can provide a solution to drastically reduce emissions from the estimated 50,000 fossil fuel plants worldwide.”

Media Information, Simon McMillan 0141 566 4875 / 07753 622 257