Energy: Carbon Capture and Storage

Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan Excerpts

Wednesday 28th July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Marland]

Obviously, the reduction in fossil fuels must be encouraged in every possible way.

[Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan]

Is the Minister aware that Doosan Babcock, the British-based company that is most involved in CCS work, estimates that it will be 2022 at the earliest before commercially available products will be on the market? What is the Government’s thinking on this, because at the moment there is a very long lead time before we are likely to see any carbon capture equipment put onto any coal-fired power station?

[Lord Marland]

The noble Lord is absolutely right and that is why it is important that we accelerate the process and why we are making our first awards at the end of this year.