National Grid's expertise in building and running safe and effective pipeline networks could play a critical role in helping the UK to meet its obligation to cut carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2020 through provision of CO2 transport services to support deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage technology.

Background

The UK emits about 650 million tonnes of CO2 each year. The UK government has pledged to cut emissions by 80 per cent from 1990's level by 2050.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has been widely recognised as potentially one of the most significant contributors to tackling climate change. It involves three main processes:

• CO2 capture
• transport and
• storage.

CCS technology involves the capture of CO2 from large fossil fuel powered generators and industrial plants which is then transported to stores beneath the seabed.

CCS can reduce the CO2 emissions of power stations by as much as 90 per cent. It could also increase domestic security of supply of energy in the UK by allowing us to retain coal generation, but using it in a more reliable and clean manner. It should also support wind deployment as it could provide reserve to cope with intermittent electricity supply from wind farms.

We are currently involved in two opportunities to demonstrate how CCS can work in the UK: the Longannet project in Scotland and the Hatfield project in the Humber Valley. We are keen to hear from project developers as future projects become defined.