CCS 'can compete with other low-carbon generation'

This is one of the conclusions of a report published yesterday that suggests CCS could help deliver electricity at a cost approaching £100/MWh by the early 2020s, and at a cost significantly below £100/MWh soon after.

The industry-led CCS Cost Reduction Taskforce’s (CRTF) final report, The potential for reducing the costs of CCS in the UK says that the availability of geological storage beneath the UK continental shelf, and the UK’s offshore oil and gas expertise means that CCS represents a real opportunity for economic growth.

This would be achieved by retaining and growing employment opportunities, protecting and growing the UK’s manufacturing base and gaining competitive advantages in manufacturing costs over other countries in Europe.

The report cautions, however, that a number of key actions that must be taken by both government and industry to make this a reality. These are also required to enable the widespread application of CCS to industrial sectors, such as steel, cement or chemicals production, which will remain dependent on fossil fuels.