Cross party group of mps launch inquiry on carbon capture usage and storage ahead of government spending review

• The All Party Parliamentary Group for Carbon Capture and Storage has today issued a call for evidence on Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS).
• MPs will hear from industry experts, academics, NGOs and unions at an evidence session in Parliament on the 13th of June.
• Recommendations will then be submitted to Government outlining what action is required to support CCUS deployment over the 2020-2023 Spending Review period.

The APPG on Carbon Capture and Storage launched on 22 May 2019 its “Greening Britain through CCUS” inquiry. This comes hot on the heels of the Committee on Climate Change’s net zero report which called CCUS “a necessity not an option” if we are to reduce our net carbon emissions to zero by the middle of the century.

Last year, in its CCUS Deployment Pathway, the Government committed to delivering the first CCUS facility from the mid-2020s, but the Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee has recently called on the Government to raise its ambition, calling for three CCUS clusters to be developed by the mid-2020s.

This inquiry will collate evidence and views on the environmental and economic value of deploying CCUS and will consult with industry experts, academics, NGOs and unions to determine what Government action is required over the forthcoming Spending Review period if the first CCUS clusters are to be developed by the mid-2020s. An advisory board has been established in order to provide expertise and guidance for the inquiry, comprising of representatives from heavy industry, academia, think tanks and NGOs (see editors notes for full membership list.) MPs will hear from witnesses on Thursday 13th June before publishing their recommendations to Government before the Summer Recess.

Alex Cunningham MP, Chair of the APPG on CCS, said: “The issue of protecting our planet is bigger than Brexit and should be beyond party politics. That’s why I’m delighted to launch this cross party inquiry on CCUS to consider what Government action is needed to support the deployment of this crucial technology in the early 2020s.”

———– ENDS ———–

Editor’s notes

What is CCUS?

CCUS, or Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage, is a key low carbon solution which enables the production of clean power, clean products (such as steel and cement) and clean hydrogen – which can then be used to decarbonise heating and transport. In addition, CCUS can be combined with bioenergy to deliver negative emissions. CCUS has a vital role to play in meeting UK and global climate change targets at least cost. The Committee on Climate Change has concluded that CCUS “could almost halve the cost of meeting the 2050 target in the Climate Change Act”.

Who is the Advisory Board?

An APPG Advisory Board has been assembled that will provide expertise and guidance to the inquiry. Members include:

●     Frank Aaskov, MakeUK

●     Dustin Benton, GreenAlliance

●     Joshua Burke, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment

●     Professor Stuart Haszeldine, University of Edinburgh

●     Professor Gideon Henderson, University of Oxford

●     Professor Joe Howe, University of Chester

●     Isabella O’Dowd, WWF

●     Dr David Reiner, University of Cambridge

●     Laura Sandys, Challenging Ideas

●     Alex White, Aldersgate Group

Who are the APPG on CCS?

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a cross party group of Parliamentarians which provides a forum for the discussion of issues relevant to the development of CCUS technologies for the purposes of mitigating carbon dioxide emissions from energy intensive industries, heating and power. The Secretariat is provided by the CCSA and Sandbag.

Who are the CCSA?

The Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) are a UK trade body representing a diverse range of members involved in the CCUS sector, including some of the biggest energy companies in the UK.

Inquiry questions

The inquiry, called “Greening Britain through CCUS”, will examine evidence on the benefits and value of CCUS technology and what is required from both Government and industry to commercialise the technology in the UK, with a specific focus on the actions that will be needed over the upcoming 2020 to 2023 Spending Review period.

The APPG invites written submissions on the following questions, of up to 400 words per answer. Please provide as comprehensive responses as you are able within this word limit, with an emphasis on the relevant expertise or experience of your organisation. All responses should be sent to CCSA@fieldconsulting.co.uk no later than 30th June 2019.

1. The Committee on Climate Change sees a role for CCUS in decarbonising a) power b) transport and c) heavy industry. Which of these do you see as delivering a) the biggest environmental benefits and b) the biggest economic benefits to the UK?
2. How essential is CCUS for the UK to meet net zero emissions by 2050?
3. What role can CCUS play in a coordinated regional industrial renaissance?
4. What opportunities are there for the UK to play a world-leading role in the development and export of CCUS e.g. technology, equipment, green industrial products, and policy and regulatory frameworks?
5. What action is required from Government over the upcoming Spending Review period (expected to cover spending between 2020 and 2023) to ensure three CCUS clusters are operational by the mid-2020s (in line with the BEIS Select Committee recommendations)?
6. What action is required from industry over the same three year period to ensure three CCUS clusters are operational by the mid-2020s (in line with the BEIS Select Committee recommendations)?
7. Given the timelines for CCUS project development, how can long-term policy continuity be ensured that stretches beyond individual Government terms?
8. Can you comment on the effectiveness of existing CCUS funding commitments?

Please note that this inquiry uses the Government’s definition of carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS), for consistency purposes. Please refer to any element of CCUS in your answers, i.e. capture, usage and/or storage, as well as the number of potential applications for CCUS, ie power, transport and heating.

Parliamentary evidence session

The APPG will hold an open evidence session in Parliament to hear from industry experts, academics, NGOs and unions on the morning of Thursday 13th June. If you would like to attend then please contact CCSA@fieldconsulting.co.uk to secure your place.