Whiteford Presses UK Government On Funding For Peterhead CCS Project

Participating in a Westminster Hall debate on carbon capture storage (CCS) projects earlier today (Tuesday) SNP Member of Parliament for Banff & Buchan, Dr Eilidh Whiteford challenged the UK Government to provide clarity on the funding and support available for the proposed  Peterhead project.

An announcement was made in November 2011 of a new joint development agreement between Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Shell UK Ltd for the development of a gas demonstrator CCS project at Peterhead, dependent on support from UK and EU funding streams.

Pressing the UK Government on their promise of access to £1 billion worth of funding for CCS projects, Dr Whiteford commented:

“Carbon capture storage is potentially game-changing technology and Peterhead has been identified as the best site in the UK for a gas demonstrator project.

“Peterhead lost a CCS project once before due to the previous Labour government being slow to act. Support from government and access to finance was not forthcoming, so investors simply upped sticks and took their technology and investment somewhere else.

“It is vital that we avoid a repeat of that situation, and that the UK Government provide access to finance within the timeframe of this parliament, so that the Peterhead scheme can move forward.

"I welcome the Government's indication that they are committed to bringing forward the new competition for funding next month, but the process needs to move swiftly if we are to avoid more missed opportunities. “