The above announcement coincided with the publication of the Government’s response to its 2008 consultation on the proposed EU CCS Directive, with particular regard to provisions dealing with carbon capture readiness (CCR). The closing date for responses to this document is 22 June 2009.
The report sought views on how CCR should be defined, assessed and implemented. The report argued that CCR should be assessed, when considering applications for the construction and operation of new combustion stations, under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 (EA). As a rule of thumb, it proposed that no combustion station of 300 megawatts or more should be consented to unless it could demonstrate CCR.
Under section 36 EA 1989, developers will need to ensure they have sufficient space to incorporate carbon capture equipment in the future. Further, they will have to assess the feasibility of retro-fitting carbon capture technology as well as identifying sites for storage of captured carbon dioxide and the feasibility for transporting it.
