What is carbon capture and storage?
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a technology that can capture at least 90% of the carbon dioxide emissions produced from using fossil fuels in electricity generation and industrial processes, preventing carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
The CCS chain consists of three parts; capturing the carbon dioxide, transporting the carbon dioxide, and securely storing the carbon dioxide emissions underground, in depleted oil and gas fields or deep saline aquifer formations.
How does CCS work?
SSE's planned CCS plant locations
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Keadby 3 CCS Power Station
SSE Thermal and Equinor are actively developing Keadby 3, which could become the UK’s first power station equipped with carbon capture technology by the mid-2020s. With an electrical output of up to 910MW, Keadby 3 Carbon Capture Power Station will use natural gas as its fuel and will be fitted with a carbon capture plant to remove the CO2 from its emissions.
Peterhead Carbon Capture Power Station
SSE Thermal and Equinor are exploring opportunities for decarbonised power generation at Peterhead, developing plans for a new power station at the site equipped with carbon capture technology.
SSE's operating expertise
In line with our commitment to a net zero future, we have a core focus on decarbonising our energy generation and storage assets.
SSE Thermal are actively exploring opportunities in emerging carbon capture and hydrogen technologies to ensure we can continue to provide flexible and reliable energy in a net zero world. SSE Thermal's carbon capture projects at Keadby and Peterhead could become the UK's first decarbonised gas-fired power stations before 2030.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen offer opportunities for SSE in the GB market. In GB, there is cross-party support on the need for both CCS and hydrogen, underlining the strategic rationale of SSE’s growing low-carbon portfolio. While CCS and hydrogen form part of UK Government plans for a net zero economy, we have advocated for it to go further, with bolder capacity targets.
These technologies also have the potential to decarbonise major industrial activity, as well as the heat and transport sectors, through projects like Humber Zero in the north of England and the Acorn Project in the north-east of Scotland.