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CCS research partnership formed between Scottish and Cypriot scientists

Microscope
Microscope
clarita, MorgueFile

Publish date: May 27, 2014

Scientists from Scotland and Cyprus have formed a research partnership to study the viability of CO2 storage to support a more sustainable development of the hydrocarbon industry in the eastern Mediterranean.

The partnership was formed between the University of Nicosia’s Centre for Green Development and Energy Policy (CGD) and Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage (SCCS). They will now seek funding for researchers from across the EU to work together in identifying suitable geological CO2 storage sites beneath the Mediterranean Sea to the south of Cyprus.

The scientists will use methodologies, previously developed by SCCS to assess CO2 storage capacity in the North Sea, to study seismic data and other information. This would be used to enhance understanding of storage sites – including depleted oil and gas reservoirs and saline aquifers – which could help boost Cyprus’ capacity to reduce CO2 emissions. When used at a large scale, CO2 capture and storage (CCS) could help countries manage their carbon footprint, from both power production and industrial processes. However, a pre-requisite for the deployment of CCS technologies is the availability of suitable CO2 storage sites.

The research partnership was acknowledged as an exciting development for SCCS by Professor Stuart Haszedine, a SCCS director. He furthermore said: ”It brings together expertise from both research groups for the shared goal of opening up new opportunities for CO2 storage, as a fledging hydrocarbons industry in Cyprus plans its future. It also provides excellent training opportunities for staff and students”.

Dr Marios Valiantis, director of the Centre for Green Development and Energy Policy at the University of Nicosia said ”Cyprus is getting ready for what we hope will be a big new offshore oil and gas industry”.

And continued: “The Government has said that it would like to progress plans for CCS too, following the European CCS Directive. This lead us to the expertise of SCCS and Professor Haszeldine, and we look forward to working with SCCS to jointly develop some plans to put before the government of Cyprus”.

Dr Valiantis also made clear that “By developing CCS alongside the hydrocarbon industry, we aim to grow our economy without contributing to climate change”.