New fossil fuel power stations should be ready for carbon capture technology, according to new guidance published today.
The Scottish Government is consulting on requirements that new power stations over 300 Megawatts should be able to incorporate carbon capture technology in the future.
In practice that would apply to all new oil, gas and coal power stations and most new fossil fuel stations with combined heat and power. The requirements would also apply to significant variations to existing power stations.
The moves are in line with targets to reduce emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, the most ambitious climate change target anywhere in the world.
Energy Minister Jim Mather said:
"Energy policy is central to increasing sustainable economic growth and to tackling climate change. Our energy supply accounts for over a third of our greenhouse gases and reducing those emissions will be crucial to meet our ambitious climate change targets.
"Carbon capture and storage has the potential to cut emissions from fossil fuels by 90 per cent. Any investment designed to last 30 years or more will need to be compatible with our climate change targets.
"The huge growth in renewables will make a major contribution, but we also need to prepare for the way for new power stations to play their part.
"We have the capacity to store carbon in the North Sea and can build on the scientific and engineering expertise in our oil and gas industry and our universities. Carbon capture technology is so important to Scotland that we have made it one of the priorities of the new Scottish European Green Energy Centre.
"We will listen carefully to responses to the consultation, but we must be at the forefront of global efforts to tackle climate change."
Carbon capture and storage is a process of separating carbon dioxide from industrial processes and transporting to a long-term storage location. The cost of ensuring new power plants are designed with carbon capture readiness are estimated to be well under one per cent of the capital building costs.
The consultation runs until January 31, 2009 and Ministers will finalise the guidance next year.
Under the Electricity Act 1989, The Scottish Government is responsible for determining applications for power stations in Scotland above 50 Megawatts of generation capacity. This consent is given both for new developments and for significant variations to existing developments.
