A UK project to capture CO2 and bury it under the North Sea is set to receive a 300m-euro boost. The European Commission has confirmed that the White Rose carbon capture and storage (CCS) project is in line to win the cash (equivalent to about £250m). The gas will be siphoned off from a new coal power station and stored in undersea rock formations.
Climate scientists believe CCS has a key role to play in reducing future CO2 emissions. Building large-scale demonstration plants that capture carbon from coal or gas and secure it in permanent storage sites has not been easy. In 2012, the European Union was unable to find a single project to fund when it attempted to spur the development of the technology.
Undeterred, the EU Commission again asked governments to submit written proposals on CCS and, according to officials, the UK has nominated the White Rose project.