A ScottishPower spokesperson said: “We welcome the Government’s reaffirmed commitment to making the UK a world-leader in carbon capture and storage.

“This decision will allow the UK to make the most of its leadership position in developing a crucial low-carbon technology of the future, supporting jobs and growth, tackling climate change while keeping the lights on, and delivering critical national infrastructure to secure UK competitiveness.

“The ScottishPower consortium remains committed to the carbon capture and storage project at Longannet, and we are on schedule with our front end engineering and design work.”