Carbon Capture and Storage in Scotland and the European Union

Abstract

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is critical to decarbonising power sector and industrial emissions, and achieving climate mitigation targets. With world-leading decarbonisation targets, a large and mature hydrocarbon sector, existing pipeline infrastructure and extensive opportunities for geological CO2 storage under the North Sea, Scotland is uniquely placed to both deliver and benefit from CCS. The technology has the potential to enable major emissions reductions towards the Scottish Government's 2050 target - it can directly address over 50% of current total emissions from Scotland's energy sector and industry. Geological CO2 storage offshore Scotland represents a resource of European significance, which could securely contain many decades' worth of power and industrial emissions from across the European Union.