Tackling industry's carbon emissions: drivers and barriers to CO₂ capture in Scotland

Scotland's manufacturing industries are key to its prosperity. However, inward investment in processes such as oil refining, chemical manufacture and cement manufacture will be increasingly affected by the implementation of environmental regulations, such as the European Union's Industrial Emissions Directive. In addition, anticipated rises in carbon prices within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will only add to the challenges faced by industry. “In contrast to the power sector, several of the world's most carbon- intensive industries have no alternatives to CCS for deep emissions reduction because much of the CO2 is unavoidably generated by their production processes, and not from fuel use. CCS will thus be essential for these sectors In autumn 2013, Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage (SCCS) held two workshops, which brought together key players from Scottish industry, government and academia, to explore the drivers and barriers to implementing carbon capture for industrial sources across Scotland. The workshops were funded by Scottish Enterprise. Although some analysis of industrial emitters and clusters of these businesses has already been undertaken in Scotland1, this has largely focused on carbon dioxide transportation and storage aspects. While some learning can be drawn from work on industrial capture in Yorkshire and Teesside2,3 to date, there has been a lack of focus on its potential in Scotland. SCCS therefore proposed the workshops as a means of identifying the technical, economic, regulatory and policy-related barriers to, and drivers for, the creation of industrial CO2 capture clusters in Scotland. This summary report describes results from these workshops, which are intended to help the Scottish Government, policy makers and other stakeholders develop a successful strategy for the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) - with the aim of contributing to Scotland's ambitious emissions reduction targets4.Scotland's manufacturing industries are key to its prosperity. However, inward investment in processes such as oil refining, chemical manufacture and cement manufacture will be increasingly affected by the implementation of environmental regulations, such as the European Union's Industrial Emissions Directive. In addition, anticipated rises in carbon prices within the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will only add to the challenges faced by industry. “In contrast to the power sector, several of the world's most carbon- intensive industries have no alternatives to CCS for deep emissions reduction because much of the CO2 is unavoidably generated by their production processes, and not from fuel use. CCS will thus be essential for these sectors In autumn 2013, Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage (SCCS) held two workshops, which brought together key players from Scottish industry, government and academia, to explore the drivers and barriers to implementing carbon capture for industrial sources across Scotland. The workshops were funded by Scottish Enterprise. Although some analysis of industrial emitters and clusters of these businesses has already been undertaken in Scotland1, this has largely focused on carbon dioxide transportation and storage aspects. While some learning can be drawn from work on industrial capture in Yorkshire and Teesside2,3 to date, there has been a lack of focus on its potential in Scotland. SCCS therefore proposed the workshops as a means of identifying the technical, economic, regulatory and policy-related barriers to, and drivers for, the creation of industrial CO2 capture clusters in Scotland. This summary report describes results from these workshops, which are intended to help the Scottish Government, policy makers and other stakeholders develop a successful strategy for the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) - with the aim of contributing to Scotland's ambitious emissions reduction targets4

SCCS response to consultation on the list of proposed projects of common interest for cross-border carbon dioxide transport

This consultation seeks views on the need for cross-border carbon dioxide (CO2) transport from the perspective of EU energy policy, considering security of supply, market integration, competition and sustainability. It also specifically seeks views on four projects submitted for inclusion in the list of PCIs on CO2 transport. SCCS welcomes the opportunity to provide views on the need for and benefits of a cross- border CO2 transport system; our views apply equally to all four projects.This consultation seeks views on the need for cross-border carbon dioxide (CO2) transport from the perspective of EU energy policy, considering security of supply, market integration, competition and sustainability. It also specifically seeks views on four projects submitted for inclusion in the list of PCIs on CO2 transport. SCCS welcomes the opportunity to provide views on the need for and benefits of a cross- border CO2 transport system; our views apply equally to all four projects

SCCS Response to Maximising Economic Recovery of Offshore UK Petroleum: Draft Strategy for Consultation

There is an inescapable synergy between maximising economic recovery, decommissioning production infrastructure and carbon capture and storage (CCS). There are multiple types of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) which can be applied to particular subsurface oil fields. However, for the UK sector of the North Sea CO2-EOR is the technology with the greatest potential. CO2-EOR involves the injection of liquid CO2 into the mature oil reservoir where, at the subsurface conditions of high temperature and high pressure, it acts as a solvent making the oil less viscous, such that additional quantities can be produced from the oil field. CO2- EOR can be an effective closed cycle system, with CO2 separated from the produced oil and returned to the reservoir for reuse and ultimately for permanent secure storage. SCCS (2015) has shown that the small additional carbon budget necessary for the engineering of offshore CO2-EOR, has no adverse consequence on the embedded carbon reduction budget of onshore electricity generation with CCS to supply millions tonnes of CO2.There is an inescapable synergy between maximising economic recovery, decommissioning production infrastructure and carbon capture and storage (CCS). There are multiple types of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) which can be applied to particular subsurface oil fields. However, for the UK sector of the North Sea CO2-EOR is the technology with the greatest potential. CO2-EOR involves the injection of liquid CO2 into the mature oil reservoir where, at the subsurface conditions of high temperature and high pressure, it acts as a solvent making the oil less viscous, such that additional quantities can be produced from the oil field. CO2- EOR can be an effective closed cycle system, with CO2 separated from the produced oil and returned to the reservoir for reuse and ultimately for permanent secure storage. SCCS (2015) has shown that the small additional carbon budget necessary for the engineering of offshore CO2-EOR, has no adverse consequence on the embedded carbon reduction budget of onshore electricity generation with CCS to supply millions tonnes of CO2

Achieving a low-carbon society: CCS expertise and opportunity in the UK

The outcome of the Paris climate talks in late 2015 was hailed as a “turning point” for international action on climate change, with 195 countries agreeing to limit the increase in average global temperatures to 1.5oC by the end of this century. It is an ambitious and necessary goal, but is it achievable? An increasing emphasis on clean, renewable energy is essential, as are more efficient ways of using energy. However, the best of intentions will hit an insurmountable roadblock if we continue to burn fossil fuels without deploying Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). CCS is a chain of proven technologies that can take us all the way to a zero-carbon future. For many economies that will be reliant on fossil fuels for several decades, CCS can support a gradual phasing in of renewable energy. CCS remains the only path to deep cuts in carbon emissions from products such as cement, steel and fertiliser - even whisky - and will effectively decarbonise power and heat generation. Deployed on gas or sustainable biomass power, it can plug the gaps in the intermittency of power supply from renewables. And there are many studies that show that the UK and its assets are best placed to deliver CCS for the whole of Europe. Although CCS is already operating in other parts of the world, this climate change technology has had a tough time making progress in the UK. The latest blow came in the last quarter of 2015, within days of the Paris talks. Two major UK CCS projects were poised to begin construction after completing front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies. Without warning, anticipated funding from the UK Government's £1 billion CCS Commercialisation Competition was withdrawn before these studies had been submitted. The Peterhead CCS Project, set to become the world's first CCS project on gas power, and White Rose, which would demonstrate oxyfuel with CCS technology on coal power, have had little choice but to consider closure. In the aftermath of the COP21 climate deal, and with the UK's own climate change advisers restating the importance of the technology in meeting the UK's Fifth Carbon Budget, the case for CCS remains as cogent as ever. In the UK, we have access to an immense CO2 storage asset beneath the North Sea, which could contain a century of Europe's carbon emissions. Added to that is an impressive track record of world-leading research and development (R&D), decades of oil and gas industry knowledge and skills and an infrastructure facing decommissioning that can be repurposed to put carbon back below ground. The progress and potential of CCS in the UK is much more than a government competition. This report describes why we need to get one of the most obvious and effective climate change tools back on track and highlights the strengths of and opportunities for the UK - and Scotland, in particular.The outcome of the Paris climate talks in late 2015 was hailed as a “turning point” for international action on climate change, with 195 countries agreeing to limit the increase in average global temperatures to 1.5oC by the end of this century. It is an ambitious and necessary goal, but is it achievable? An increasing emphasis on clean, renewable energy is essential, as are more efficient ways of using energy. However, the best of intentions will hit an insurmountable roadblock if we continue to burn fossil fuels without deploying Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). CCS is a chain of proven technologies that can take us all the way to a zero-carbon future. For many economies that will be reliant on fossil fuels for several decades, CCS can support a gradual phasing in of renewable energy. CCS remains the only path to deep cuts in carbon emissions from products such as cement, steel and fertiliser - even whisky - and will effectively decarbonise power and heat generation. Deployed on gas or sustainable biomass power, it can plug the gaps in the intermittency of power supply from renewables. And there are many studies that show that the UK and its assets are best placed to deliver CCS for the whole of Europe. Although CCS is already operating in other parts of the world, this climate change technology has had a tough time making progress in the UK. The latest blow came in the last quarter of 2015, within days of the Paris talks. Two major UK CCS projects were poised to begin construction after completing front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies. Without warning, anticipated funding from the UK Government's £1 billion CCS Commercialisation Competition was withdrawn before these studies had been submitted. The Peterhead CCS Project, set to become the world's first CCS project on gas power, and White Rose, which would demonstrate oxyfuel with CCS technology on coal power, have had little choice but to consider closure. In the aftermath of the COP21 climate deal, and with the UK's own climate change advisers restating the importance of the technology in meeting the UK's Fifth Carbon Budget, the case for CCS remains as cogent as ever. In the UK, we have access to an immense CO2 storage asset beneath the North Sea, which could contain a century of Europe's carbon emissions. Added to that is an impressive track record of world-leading research and development (R&D), decades of oil and gas industry knowledge and skills and an infrastructure facing decommissioning that can be repurposed to put carbon back below ground. The progress and potential of CCS in the UK is much more than a government competition. This report describes why we need to get one of the most obvious and effective climate change tools back on track and highlights the strengths of and opportunities for the UK - and Scotland, in particular

Roundtable Event : The Potential Value of CCUS to the Political Economy, Edinburgh 28 November 2018

The Centre for Energy Policy held a Roundtable on the potential value to the political economy of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), in the margins of the Global CCUS Summit held in Edinburgh. This note summarises discussions and reflects on next steps. Participants are listed in the appendix. This note does not attribute comments or views to particular participants. Professor Graeme Sweeney chaired the Roundtable, with Professor Karen Turner, Director of the Centre for Energy Policy, kick-starting the discussion with a presentation on recent research on the potential value of CCUS to the political economy

Scottish CO₂ Hub - A unique opportunity for the United Kingdom

Development of a Scottish CO2 Hub can unlock the potential for CCS in the UK and Europe by providing early access for CO2 captured in the North Sea Region to extensive, well-characterised storage in the Central North Sea (CNS) at low risk, while creating value through CO2 utilisation.Development of a Scottish CO2 Hub can unlock the potential for CCS in the UK and Europe by providing early access for CO2 captured in the North Sea Region to extensive, well-characterised storage in the Central North Sea (CNS) at low risk, while creating value through CO2 utilisation

SCCS Recommendations and Conference 2014 Report - A CCS future for Europe:catalysing North Sea action

It is unequivocal that the continued unabated use of fossil fuels is no longer an option if the world is to avoid "severe, pervasive and irreversible” damage from the impacts of climate change. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has a critical role to play in achieving energy system and industrial decarbonisation to successfully mitigate the changing climate. Europe has led the world on action to address climate change, introducing leading decarbonisation targets and the world's largest carbon emissions trading scheme. It has also supported the development and deployment of low-carbon renewable energy technologies. However, despite leading early calls for the delivery of CCS technology needed to complement and secure a low-carbon future, Europe has now fallen behind. This threatens its domestic ability to successfully decarbonise as well as its international leadership in delivering climate mitigation action. In 2007, the European Council of EU Member States called for “up to 12 CCS demonstration projects to be delivered by 2015”. Seven years and numerous project proposals later, no CCS projects have started construction, and the majority have been cancelled or mothballed. This is in stark contrast to growing CCS momentum elsewhere, such as in North America and China (see panel, Global progress on CCS). The remaining handful of Europe's CCS demonstration projects are negotiating much-needed financial support from the EU and national governments. Located around the North Sea - Europe's largest, best understood and most bankable CO2 storage asset - these projects must be an immediate priority in the EU's climate objectives. However, even these will be insufficient to successfully deliver the full potential of CCS. It is essential that follow-on projects are quickly brought forward and properly supported to create a CCS industry capable of delivering significant decarbonisation along with energy, security, job retention and economic value. The 2014 SCCS Annual Conference, A CCS future for Europe, brought together international CCS experts from industry, government, research, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and finance to explore how Europe can regain momentum and deliver CCS.It is unequivocal that the continued unabated use of fossil fuels is no longer an option if the world is to avoid "severe, pervasive and irreversible” damage from the impacts of climate change. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) has a critical role to play in achieving energy system and industrial decarbonisation to successfully mitigate the changing climate. Europe has led the world on action to address climate change, introducing leading decarbonisation targets and the world's largest carbon emissions trading scheme. It has also supported the development and deployment of low-carbon renewable energy technologies. However, despite leading early calls for the delivery of CCS technology needed to complement and secure a low-carbon future, Europe has now fallen behind. This threatens its domestic ability to successfully decarbonise as well as its international leadership in delivering climate mitigation action. In 2007, the European Council of EU Member States called for “up to 12 CCS demonstration projects to be delivered by 2015”. Seven years and numerous project proposals later, no CCS projects have started construction, and the majority have been cancelled or mothballed. This is in stark contrast to growing CCS momentum elsewhere, such as in North America and China (see panel, Global progress on CCS). The remaining handful of Europe's CCS demonstration projects are negotiating much-needed financial support from the EU and national governments. Located around the North Sea - Europe's largest, best understood and most bankable CO2 storage asset - these projects must be an immediate priority in the EU's climate objectives. However, even these will be insufficient to successfully deliver the full potential of CCS. It is essential that follow-on projects are quickly brought forward and properly supported to create a CCS industry capable of delivering significant decarbonisation along with energy, security, job retention and economic value. The 2014 SCCS Annual Conference, A CCS future for Europe, brought together international CCS experts from industry, government, research, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and finance to explore how Europe can regain momentum and deliver CCS

SCCS Recommendations and Conference 2013 Executive Summary - Unlocking North Sea CO2 Storage for Europe: Practical actions for the next five years

CARBON dioxide emissions are the major cause of climate change: that is unequivocal. To limit the effects, we must reduce the amount of fossil carbon combusted and emitted as CO . Carbon capture and storage 2 (CCS) is the only technology that directly reduces emissions at source, and enables countries to manage carbon budgets for both power plants and process industries. The next five years will be crucial in putting CCS back into position as an enabler of Europe's transition to a low-carbon economy. Practical actions must be combined with durable policy drivers to rebuild confidence and attract investment. This will be essential for large-scale emissions reductions from both industry and power generation to 2030 and 2050 as Europe seeks to manage climate risk, retain jobs and improve its low-carbon competitiveness. The North Sea is the largest CO2 storage resource in Europe, and offers the ideal location for immediate efforts. By using low-cost available CO2 from industrial sources, Europe can accelerate the development of enabling infrastructures for CO2 transport and storage. The following six recommendations set out steps that can be taken now to help unlock North Sea CO2 storage for Europe.CARBON dioxide emissions are the major cause of climate change: that is unequivocal. To limit the effects, we must reduce the amount of fossil carbon combusted and emitted as CO . Carbon capture and storage 2 (CCS) is the only technology that directly reduces emissions at source, and enables countries to manage carbon budgets for both power plants and process industries. The next five years will be crucial in putting CCS back into position as an enabler of Europe's transition to a low-carbon economy. Practical actions must be combined with durable policy drivers to rebuild confidence and attract investment. This will be essential for large-scale emissions reductions from both industry and power generation to 2030 and 2050 as Europe seeks to manage climate risk, retain jobs and improve its low-carbon competitiveness. The North Sea is the largest CO2 storage resource in Europe, and offers the ideal location for immediate efforts. By using low-cost available CO2 from industrial sources, Europe can accelerate the development of enabling infrastructures for CO2 transport and storage. The following six recommendations set out steps that can be taken now to help unlock North Sea CO2 storage for Europe

SCCS Recommendations and Conference 2013 Report - Unlocking North Sea CO2 Storage for Europe: Practical actions for the next five years

CARBON dioxide emissions are the major cause of climate change: that is unequivocal. To limit the effects, we must reduce the amount of fossil carbon combusted and emitted as CO . Carbon capture and storage 2 (CCS) is the only technology that directly reduces emissions at source, and enables countries to manage carbon budgets for both power plants and process industries. The next five years will be crucial in putting CCS back into position as an enabler of Europe's transition to a low-carbon economy. Practical actions must be combined with durable policy drivers to rebuild confidence and attract investment. This will be essential for large-scale emissions reductions from both industry and power generation to 2030 and 2050 as Europe seeks to manage climate risk, retain jobs and improve its low-carbon competitiveness. The North Sea is the largest CO2 storage resource in Europe, and offers the ideal location for immediate efforts. By using low-cost available CO2 from industrial sources, Europe can accelerate the development of enabling infrastructures for CO2 transport and storage. The following six recommendations set out steps that can be taken now to help unlock North Sea CO2 storage for Europe.CARBON dioxide emissions are the major cause of climate change: that is unequivocal. To limit the effects, we must reduce the amount of fossil carbon combusted and emitted as CO . Carbon capture and storage 2 (CCS) is the only technology that directly reduces emissions at source, and enables countries to manage carbon budgets for both power plants and process industries. The next five years will be crucial in putting CCS back into position as an enabler of Europe's transition to a low-carbon economy. Practical actions must be combined with durable policy drivers to rebuild confidence and attract investment. This will be essential for large-scale emissions reductions from both industry and power generation to 2030 and 2050 as Europe seeks to manage climate risk, retain jobs and improve its low-carbon competitiveness. The North Sea is the largest CO2 storage resource in Europe, and offers the ideal location for immediate efforts. By using low-cost available CO2 from industrial sources, Europe can accelerate the development of enabling infrastructures for CO2 transport and storage. The following six recommendations set out steps that can be taken now to help unlock North Sea CO2 storage for Europe