Developed by Capture Power Limited, a consortium between Drax, Alstom and BOC, the proposed 426MW coal power plant, located near Selby in North Yorkshire, will be equipped with CCS technology from the outset and 90% of all the CO2 produced by the plant will be captured and transported by pipeline for permanent storage beneath the North Sea.
As part of an ongoing formal consultation programme, local residents are being invited to attend public exhibitions next week to view the latest plans. Exhibitions are being held at Selby Town Hall on Tuesday, 15 July, the Junction at Goole on Wednesday, 16 July and Drax Sports and Social Club on Thursday, 17 July. The exhibitions are open from 2pm to 8pm.
Dr Luke Warren, Chief Executive of the CCSA
“Today’s announcement of the award decision to the White Rose CCS project is great news indeed, and represents a real step forward for CCS in Europe.
White Rose is one of the two CCS competition projects in the UK and there are a number of others outside this competition also in development. It is encouraging that the European Commission is able to support the UK’s efforts to commercialise CCS.
Globally, CCS is a reality today and crucially the world’s first commercial-scale CCS project fitted to a power station – the Boundary Dam project – begins operation in Canada in September. Today’s announcement for White Rose will help to ensure that Europe can begin to catch up with those countries taking a lead on CCS.
To build on today’s announcement and maintain momentum in CCS in Europe, it is vital that CCS forms an integral part of the 2030 climate and energy package. If Europe is to remain competitive, decarbonise and ensure energy security, the use of CCS in power and industrial processes must be part of the package.”
Brad Page, Global CCS Institute CEO
“The UK’s White Rose CCS Project is planned to be the first large-scale oxyfuel project in the world with the ability to use biomass fuel for co-firing. This means that in addition to capturing nearly 90% of its carbon emissions, under the right circumstances it could reach zero or even negative emissions. This project, and several others at advanced stages of planning in the UK and mainland Europe, have the potential to reinvigorate CCS in Europe and help meet the world’s climate targets.”
Dr. Graeme Sweeney, Chairman of ZEP
“This decision sends a strong and positive signal, reaffirming the importance of CCS deployment and that we must keep pushing European projects with the continued support both at EU and Member State level. ZEP’s modelling shows that in the coming years CCS can create and secure an estimated total of 330,000 jobs across Europe. The EU’s long-term goal of reducing GHG emissions by 80-95% by 2050 cannot be met cost-effectively without CCS. Achieving our emission reduction goals while maintaining Europe’s industrial base is also essential for competitiveness, job retention and job creation in Europe."
Dr Vivian Scott, Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage
“CCS technology is crucial to reducing carbon emissions from power plant and industry across the UK, Europe and worldwide. The White Rose project will demonstrate that the technology can deliver low-carbon power from coal, and will develop a North Sea CO2 pipeline and storage infrastructure that can be utilised by other large CO2 emitters, such as energy-intensive industry, in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
“The NER300 programme was created to support CCS following the European Council’s resolution in 2007 to deliver ‘up to 12 CCS demonstration projects by 2015’. So far, this ambition has struggled to be realised, and only a handful of projects remain in development. We must not lose sight of these schemes – the ROAD project in the Netherlands, the Captain project in Grangemouth and Don Valley in Yorkshire – which, together with White Rose and the Peterhead project in Scotland, have the potential to initiate the development of the North Sea as a globally significant region for CO2 storage.
“EU Member States, the EC and new European Parliament are currently negotiating Europe’s 2030 climate and energy package. But while the EC recognises the need for CCS to help achieve the target of a 40% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, it does not suggest any specific measures to support it.
“Proposals to strengthen the emissions trading scheme are welcome, but they will not deliver a carbon price sufficient to support CCS alone. Today’s announcement must be followed through with a strong commitment by heads of government to deliver CCS projects on coal and gas power plant, and on industry, and with tailored measures in the EU2030 package.”