The SSE Peterhead project would demonstrate post-combustion capture of CO₂ from the equivalent of 400MW of electric capacity. The suitable location of the project renders transport and storage of CO₂ a fairly uncomplicated process. Discussion meetings will be organised between the UK Government and the company to discuss the project’s viability.

Although the recent UK government coalition agreement proposes financing four coal-fired power stations fitted with CCS, SSE is keen to persuade the government that a gas-fired station would also be suitable for a CCS scheme.  SSE’s project is also in tandem with CCC’s advice in June 2010 to widen the scope of CCS, fitting CCS equipment to new gas-fired power stations. The government appears to be seriously considering these recommendations.

Indeed CCS needs to be approached as a technology which covers fossil fuel-fired power plants as well as other highly CO₂ emitting sectors such as steel or cement production. Incentivising CCS application in these sectors now, is the responsible way to go forward.

To read the announcement of SSE click here