Carbon capture and storage project receives boost

The University of Sheffield has secured funding of more than £6m to develop its carbon and storage research for another five years.

The University leads the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre (UKCCSRC), and with the help of 250 academics, coordinates a programme on all aspects of carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Professor Jon Gibbins, Director of the UKCCSRC, said: “The continued investment in the centre demonstrates the importance of the technology going forward in the UK. This funding will allow us to build on the progress we have made and strengthen our research with new funding calls and support for early career researchers. This will help ensure that our industries and consumers are able to see the benefits of CCS in the 2020s.”

CCS is a low carbon technology that captures CO₂ emitted from the burning of fossil fuels or biomass either for energy generation or manufacturing processes. The captured gas is pumped deep underground where it is unable to re-enter the atmosphere. The UKCCSRC received £6.1m of investment from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research council (EPSRC) with an additional £1.5m expected from partner institutions.

The UKCCSRC operates as a virtual network where academics, industry, regulators and industry experts collaborate to analyse problems and carry out research. A key aim is supporting the UK economy with an integrated research programme focused on maximising CCS contribution to a low-carbon UK energy system.