Lyon hopeful Scotland will secure European funding for CCS (Dumbarton Liberal Democrats)

Dumbarton Liberal Democrats <anisbet@aniscon.com>

Lyon hopeful Scotland will secure European funding for CCS

September 30, 2009 12:00 AM
Originally published by George Lyon - Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland

George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP for Scotland, is hopeful that Scotland will be home to one of the seven sites to secure funding to trial carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) in Europe.

Schemes in Germany, France, Poland, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK are all likely to secure funding of up to €180m from a total budget of €1.08 billion allocated towards CCS in the EU's economic recovery programme.

CCS offers the potential for curbing CO2 emissions from fossil fuel power plants and major industrial installations. Instead of being released into the atmosphere, it is intended that CO2 shall be captured and then piped for permanent storage in rocks deep underground that formerly contained natural gas or oil.

Mr Lyon, who launched his European election campaign from Longannet Power Station in June, commented:

"I said back in June that Scotland has the potential to lead the world in carbon capture technology. I am hopeful that the EU will recognise this when the funding for CCS projects is announced.

"Developing nations like India and China are fueling the growth of their economies with coal. That is a huge potential market that Scotland can tap in to in order to help our economy prosper.

"Scotland's key role in the development of renewables remains vital to our energy future, but we will not combat climate change without the use of CCS.

"Fingers crossed that tomorrow we can begin to grow Scotland's economy and reduce CO2 emissions through carbon capture and storage."