CCS next generation capture technology demonstrator

22nd March 2010

The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is starting the search for organisations or consortia to bid for a major project which could establish an advanced CO2 Capture Technology demonstration project.

The proposed project would see the development of world-leading next generation capture technology to a stage where it has completed full scale demonstration by 2015 and ready for adoption into full scale commercial power applications by 2020.

A Request for Proposals giving full details of the project and what the ETI expects from   potential consortia members is expected to be released on the ETI’s website at www.energytechnologies.co.uk on 31 March.

Bidders will need to demonstrate and justify how their approach would enable their technology to reach a state of development that would allow future investors to start engineering the design of a power station using this next generation technology in 2015, with operation commencing in 2020.

The ETI has already completed an extensive analysis of likely future UK requirements for new build and CCS retrofit power generation and the intention is to seek detailed and specific proposals for a technology validation and demonstration programme of a particular approach to new build coal with CCS as part of its wider portfolio of CCS developments.

ETI Chief Executive Dr David Clarke said: “Power Generation accounts for approximately a third of the UK’s CO2 emissions or 180 million tonnes of CO2 a year. Capturing and storing that carbon could reduce emissions from fossil fuel power stations by as much as 90%. Capturing the CO2 emissions from fossil-fuelled power stations using the technologies currently available can increase the capital costs of a new power station by between 50 and 100% and significantly reduce power output or increase fuel consumption. Developing capture technologies that cost less and have less impact on performance will significantly enhance the potential for wide-scale roll out of CCS in the UK. This project would enable the technology to catch the “second wave” of CCS implementation in the 2020s following on from the first phase of plants expected to be built between 2015 and 2020 as part of the Department for Energy and Climate Change’s demonstration projects."

The ETI has previously announced the £3.8m UK Storage Appraisal Project, to improve the estimates of how much practical geologic storage space is potentially available around the country as captured CO2 would be transported to storage sites, probably in disused oil and gas reservoirs under the North Sea.

The ETI brings together the complementary capabilities of global industrial groups – BP, Caterpillar, EDF Energy, E.ON, Rolls-Royce and Shell - in a unique approach with the UK government. Operating at a national strategic level it is delivering large scale complex engineering solutions for the UK energy system helping to meet 2050 challenges.

Last year it announced 15 projects worth over £53m in offshore wind, marine, transport, CCS, energy storage and distribution and distributed energy.
The ETI also developed its unique Energy System Model to help identify those technologies capable of having the greatest impact through to 2050 under a range of different demand scenarios.
Already in 2010 the ETI has announced a further £9m of projects in offshore wind, distributed energy, CCS and transport.

Notes to Editors

• The Energy Technologies Institute is a UK based company formed from global industries and the UK Government. The ETI brings together projects and partnerships that create affordable, reliable, clean energy for heat, power and transport. For more information, please go to www.energytechnologies.co.uk


• The ETI’s six private sector members are BP, Caterpillar, EDF Energy, E.ON, Rolls-Royce and Shell. The UK Government has committed to match support from four further Members.  The ETI’s public funds are received from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills through the Technology Strategy Board and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). These organisations, together with the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), are engaged directly in the ETI’s strategy and programme development.


• The ETI will accelerate the deployment of affordable, secure low-carbon energy systems from 2020 to 2050 by demonstrating technologies, developing knowledge, skills and supply-chains and informing the development of regulation, standards and policy.

For further information please contact
ETI PR Manager Nigel Richardson on 01509 202084/07827 946064