Energy Technologies Institute assessing UK offshore CO2 storage capacity

Offshore staff

LOUGHBOROUGH, UK -- The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the UK’s CO₂ storage capacity.

The UK CO₂ Storage Appraisal Project (UKSAP) is led by Senergy Alternative Energy and involves technical contributions from the British Geological Survey, the Scottish Centre for Carbon Storage (University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University), Durham University, GeoPressure Technology, Geospatial Research, Imperial College London, RPS Energy, and Element Energy. It will also draw strongly on the expertise of the ETI members.

According to ETI, the project will review potential offshore sites suitable for storing CO₂ and help to answer the question of exactly how much storage capacity is practically available in the UK.

“This is exactly the sort of analysis that will allow policy makers and industry to move forward with greater confidence to ensure the UK effectively pursues and implements large scale CO₂ storage,” says Nial McCollam, MD of Senergy Alternative Energy. “CCS may not be a silver bullet, but it is likely to be one of the key technologies which enable society to address the complex challenge of sustaining clean, affordable, and secure energy supplies while addressing the looming issue of climate change.”

The project started in October and will be completed by March 2011.

10/09/2009