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Longannet carbon capture to be 'scrapped' Longannet carbon capture scheme scrapped
(40 minutes later)
Plans for a carbon capture project at Longannet in Fife are to be scrapped, BBC Scotland understands. Plans for a carbon capture project at Longannet in Fife have been scrapped, the energy secretary has confirmed.
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne is preparing to announce the failure of the project to capture carbon dioxide emissions and pipe them under the sea. Chris Huhne has announced the failure to seal a deal to capture carbon dioxide emissions at the power plant and pipe them under the sea.
Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed the problems in the Commons earlier. Mr Huhne blamed problems with the length of pipeline needed but said the government hoped other schemes could work, indicating interest at Peterhead.
Mr Cameron was responding to a question from Labour's energy spokesman Tom Greatrex, urging the UK government to save the project. Government money of up to £1bn is available for carbon capture schemes.
The prime minister said government money was still on offer, thought to be about £1bn, but conceded there were doubts about the scheme. In the Commons, Mr Huhne said: "Despite all parties working extremely hard on the first carbon capture and demonstration project at Longannet, we have not been able to reach a satisfactory deal as the prime minister pointed out and we will therefore not be proceeding with the project and this decision is purely about the viability of this particular project.
The consortium behind the project is led by Scottish Power. "It's not in any way a reflection on our commitment to the CCS programme."
The energy secretary told MPs the length of pipeline needed for Longannet and the distance from reservoirs made the scheme unviable.
He said studies into carbon capture would be published and that the government was "absolutely confident" future projects would go ahead.
Mr Huhne said interest has still been expressed by Peterhead and he was confident a carbon capture scheme could be brought online for £1bn.
'Vital technology'
The consortium behind the Longannet project was led by Scottish Power.
Longannet, which is the UK's second largest coal-fired power station and Europe's third largest, is among the biggest polluters in the country.Longannet, which is the UK's second largest coal-fired power station and Europe's third largest, is among the biggest polluters in the country.
It produces energy for two million people and emits between seven million and eight million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year.It produces energy for two million people and emits between seven million and eight million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year.
The carbon capture scheme hoped to pump emissions from Longannet into storage in rocks under the North Sea.The carbon capture scheme hoped to pump emissions from Longannet into storage in rocks under the North Sea.
A year ago, the Longannet project became the only entrant in a CCS competition run by the UK government for £1bn of funding, after energy giant E.On dropped plans for a plant at its proposed Kingsnorth power station in Kent.A year ago, the Longannet project became the only entrant in a CCS competition run by the UK government for £1bn of funding, after energy giant E.On dropped plans for a plant at its proposed Kingsnorth power station in Kent.
In June, Scottish Power and its partners National Grid and Shell UK announced plans to create an onshore pipeline carrying up to two million tonnes of CO2 as part of the CCS scheme to pump emissions from Longannet to the North Sea.In June, Scottish Power and its partners National Grid and Shell UK announced plans to create an onshore pipeline carrying up to two million tonnes of CO2 as part of the CCS scheme to pump emissions from Longannet to the North Sea.
Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed the problems in the Commons earlier.
Mr Cameron was responding to a question from Labour's energy spokesman Tom Greatrex, urging the UK government to save the project.
Responding to Mr Greatrex during Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron said: "The funding that we set aside for carbon capture and storage is still there, that funding will be made available.Responding to Mr Greatrex during Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron said: "The funding that we set aside for carbon capture and storage is still there, that funding will be made available.
"Clearly the Longannet scheme isn't working in the way they intended but the money from the government, the support from the government, for this vital technology, is there.""Clearly the Longannet scheme isn't working in the way they intended but the money from the government, the support from the government, for this vital technology, is there."