FAQs
Frequently asked questions
UK Policy
What regulations are in place to govern how CCS is developed?
The UK currently has a policy in place which requires that no new coal-fired power station can be built without CCS at least on a proportion of its capacity. In addition, there is also a policy in place that any new thermal generating station (coal or gas) must be designed as “carbon capture ready” (CCR) when applying for a planning permit.
The EU CCS Directive, which has been transposed into UK law, regulates the storage of CO2.
In the UK, both capture plant and pipelines can be incorporated into existing regulation; for example, the UK is currently amending the Pipeline Safety Regulations to incorporate safety standards for CO2 pipelines. Other important regulations will also apply e.g. COMAH & HSW Act.
What is an Emissions Performance Standard?
An Emissions Performance Standard (EPS), as applied to a power station, regulates the carbon dioxide the plant can emit per unit of production.
The UK government is currently considering how to introduce an EPS in the UK. The UK government aims to introduce an EPS. The impact of the EPS will depend upon the level at which it is set. A high EPS might reinforce the current policy limiting new “unabated” coal-fired generating capacity; if set lower, it could drive CCS to be fitted to gas-fired generating capacity.
How many CCS plants are we building in the UK?
The UK Government has committed to funding four CCS demonstration projects. These projects will be critical in validating our understanding of how CCS operates at an industrial scale. We will need CCS on all coal- and gas-fired generating capacity by 2030, so the first four demonstration projects will represent only the early stages of a progressive roll-out of CCS in the UK.
