Press release

Taking pollution out of our power stations

Minister of State for Energy, Matthew Hancock, signed an agreement with Canada to work together on research and knowledge sharing for carbon capture and storage (CCS).

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Minister of State for Energy, Matthew Hancock, today signed an agreement with Canada to work together on research and knowledge sharing for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) - a technology which dramatically reduces carbon emissions.

The Joint Statement identifies how the UK and Canada will work together on research and innovation cooperation, knowledge sharing and international engagement and builds on the work both countries already undertake in increasing the use of low carbon technologies.

CCS has the potential to be one of the most cost effective technologies for decarbonisation of the UK’s power, enabling us to keep fossil fuels (coal and gas) in the UK’s electricity mix. If developed CCS would reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and store it deep underground. CCS projects are also important contributors to the UK’s growth – high quality, high value and high expertise.

Matthew Hancock said: “Carbon Capture and Storage could help us tackle climate change. I welcome the fact that the UK and Canada will be working together to advance the technology. Our agreement is an important step forward for the carbon capture and storage sector, and I look forward to further UK-Canada cooperation.”

The UK has positioned itself as one of the world’s frontrunners in this sector and is leading Europe with two commercial scale carbon capture and storage projects in development, Peterhead in Scotland and White Rose in Yorkshire.

Further information on Carbon Capture and Storage

Signed Joint Statement

Published 18 November 2014