Two Scottish decarbonisation projects have attracted seed funding from UK Research and Innovation to conduct further work on CO2 reduction programmes, aimed at helping Scotland meet its ambitious Net Zero target by 2045 and the UK to meet its target by 2050.

One, led by Pale Blue Dot Energy, the Aberdeen based lead developer behind the Acorn Project is to receive around £100,000 to develop its plans for deploying CO2 gathering and shipping infrastructure to decarbonise the industrial cluster in the Central Belt of Scotland; while a second partnership led by NECCUS, the North East Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage Alliance, attracted a similar amount to develop a roadmap. This will set out in detail how low carbon and Net Zero industrial clusters can be achieved in the coming years.

Crucially, the funding allows both organisations to progress to the next round of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund. This means they are eligible to compete for further funding, for which £131m is available for the deployment element of the industrial strategy, while £8m is available for the roadmap work.

NECCUS was launched in 2019 to ensure delivery of numerous low carbon projects across Scotland, it partnered with leading academic groups and industry for the roadmap work. Pale Blue Dot partnered with Costain and Doosan Babcock among others for the first phase of deployment work.

Minister for Energy, Connectivity, and the Islands Paul Wheelhouse 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."

Mike Smith, NECCUS CEO said, 
"This 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. The roadmap will help tell us what we have to do and by when."

Sian Wilson, Senior Manager, Crown Estate Scotland which provides the rights for CO2 storage and is an active supporter of both projects said,
"The end goal for the work is that Scotland can offer the next generation a truly sustainable future with good quality jobs created from clean, inclusive, growth across a range of sectors. This is something we wholly support and are therefore pleased to be involved in this project."

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Pale Blue Dot