The research suggests that the Captain Sandstone formation more than half a mile beneath the Moray Firth could potentially store 100 years' worth of CO2 emissions from the energy sector.
Scotland's potentially massive offshore CO2 storage capacity is of European significance. The European Union has specified that three of the eight CCS demonstrator plants that it will fund under its multi-billion euro demonstrator programme must inject into saline aquifers.
Professor Eric Mackay of SCCS said: “The Captain Sandstone is just one of many rock formations filled with salt water in the central and northern North Sea. We have shown that this is a feasible site that could store massive amounts of CO2, helping the UK meet its targets for carbon emissions reduction.
“Our research indicates CO2 output captured from a fossil fuel-fired power station, like the existing plant at Longannet or Peterhead or any future capture projects such as at Hunterston, could be stored beneath the North Sea. The unique combination of government, industry and research capability provides Scotland with the opportunity to lead the way in the development of CCS."
The SCCS research was funded by the Scottish Government and a group of businesses within the energy sector.
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