London, 30 June 2011

The Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) has noted the Committee on Climate Change’s report to Parliament highlighting the UK’s lack of progress in emission reductions in 2010; and agrees with the Committee’s assessment on the main factors impacting the UK’s underperformance, in particular the ongoing delays affecting deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

Prof. Jeff Chapman from the CCSA comments: "The CCC’s own recommendations, as part of the Government’s Fourth Carbon Budget, state we cannot meet the UK’s climate change targets unless we decarbonise the power sector, and we cannot do this without an appropriate market structure which balances fossil fuels with CCS together with renewables and nuclear.”

“It’s been four years since the government called for bids for the first project of a UK CCS programme and we note that even that first project has yet to be contracted.  Whilst we welcome the government’s subsequent commitment to four projects, a commitment without timely funding sends the wrong signal to businesses investing in the UK’s emerging low-carbon market.”

“The Committee recommends that the power sector is decarbonised by 2030 and recognises that this cannot be achieved without CCS. We urgently need to get on with this investment programme if the nationally agreed carbon budgets are to be realised. The private sector is prepared to lead on low-carbon technologies, including CCS, but this represents a major investment programme and needs a firm policy commitment on funding to ensure investor confidence.”

“We call for the government to confirm funding for projects 2-4 as soon as possible.  We need this funding to start saving carbon emissions cost effectively and to showcase our capability to the rest of the world.

“We expect the forthcoming Electricity Market Reform White Paper to reflect this urgent need.”

Ends --

www.theccc.org.uk/reports