TWO Scottish decarbonisation projects have attracted seed funding to further their work aimed at helping Scotland achieve its net-zero target by 2050.
Scotland’s Net Zero Infrastructure project, led by Pale Blue Dot Energy, in partnership with Costain, Doosan Babcock and Neccus, has received UK Research and Innovation funding to develop its plans for the deployment and shipping infrastructure to decarbonise the central belt’s industrial cluster.
A second partnership, led by Neccus (the North East Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage Alliance) has been given funding to develop a roadmap for Scotland setting out details of how low carbon and net-zero industrial clusters can be achieved in the coming years. The funding allows both organisations to progress to the next round of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, making them eligible for further funding – £131 million is available for the deployment element, while £8m is available for the roadmap work.
Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Energy, Connectivity, and the Islands, said: “I am very pleased to see two Scottish CCUS projects, co-ordinated by Pale Blue Dot Energy and Neccus, successfully winning funding through the Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge Fund.
“Scotland is delivering on its world-leading emissions reduction targets and ambition to be net zero by 2045, and CCUS is a vital component of our energy transition which supports industrial decarbonisation.
“The climate emergency remains, and it is therefore vital we have a strong, green economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Because these technologies are critical to the essential energy transition and to ensuring a just transition, we are supporting the development and implementation of CCUS technologies, including continued Scottish Government backing for Pale Blue Dot Energy and Neccus.”
Martin Edwards, Pale Blue Dot Energy’s commercial director said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this funding to help develop our plans for Scotland’s Net Zero Infrastructure project.
“This infrastructure is essential to meet the challenge of cost effectively and urgently decarbonising our industries and creating exciting clean growth opportunities.”
Neccus CEO, Mike Smith, added: “This is a great step forward for us. Decarbonising our economy is a huge but vital project, and we need to have an ambitious and robust view of how to achieve it.”
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