Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions around the world continue to grow. The UK is struggling to meet its targets of reducing CO2 emissions by 20 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010, and 60 per cent by 2050, while growing demand in countries such as India and China is expected to fuel a dramatic increase in global emissions in the future. Concern over security of energy supply is also a major feature of the current debate about energy policy. This reports finds significant scope for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to contribute to both reducing emissions and enhancing future security of energy supply. Costs of CCS are comparable to other low carbon approaches, with potential to reduce those costs substantially with technological development and economies of scale. Enhanced oil recovery, extending the life of the North Sea oil fields, could also offset the cost of CCS. Geological storage is relatively safe and secure, though the Government should clarify whether storage under the seabed is permissible under international law. Whilst UK industry is poised to make substantial investments in CCS and full scale demonstration projects, the Government needs to display much greater urgency and commitment, by increasing investment in research, development and demonstration, and by setting up a long-term incentive framework.

There are two main energy challenges: tackling climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions; and ensuring clean and affordable energy as the country becomes increasingly dependent on imported fuel. These challenges have to be met against the backdrop of rising fossil fuel prices; slower than anticipated liberalisation of the EU energy markets; heightened awareness of the risk arising from remaining oil and gas reserves being concentrated in a few geographical regions; and a need for substantial new investment in power stations, the electricity grid and gas infrastructure. This White Paper sets out the Governments international and domestic strategy to address these challenges and ways to implement the Energy Review of 2006 and the 2006 Pre-Budget Report. There is a separate consultation document on nuclear power.

Meeting UK energy and climate Needs : The role of carbon capture and storage, first report of session 2005-06, Vol. 2: Oral and written Evidence

This national policy statement (NPS) sets out national policy for the energy infrastructure. A further five technology-specific NPSs for the energy sector cover: fossil fuel electricity generation (EN-2) (ISBN 9780108510786); renewable electricity generation (both onshore and offshore) (EN-3) (ISBN 9780108510793); gas supply infrastructure and gas and oil pipelines (EN-4) (ISBN 9780108510809); the electricity transmission and distribution network (EN-5) (ISBN 9780108510816); and nuclear power generation (EN-6) (ISBN 9780108510823). An Impact assessment is also available (ISBN 9780108510830). The NPSs have effect on the decisions by the Infrastructure Planning Commission on application for energy developments. This statement outlines the Government's objectives for the power sector in order to meet its energy and climate change strategy. It sets out the need for new energy infrastructure and the assessment principles and generic impacts.

This report presented by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, sets out the nature and potential available to the UK energy market, in meeting three long-term challenges: (i) ensuring affordable, secure and sustainable energy; (ii) bringing about the transition to a low-carbon Britain; (iii) achieving an international agreement at Copenhagen in December 2009. This is the third Energy Markets Outlook report and seeks to facilitate and inform debate and decision making by market participants and other energy market stakeholders with a factual background to the development of the Government's approach to the above challenges. The publication comprises 10 chapters, and looks at the following areas: the security of supply in a competitive energy market; electricity, gas, coal, oil, nuclear fuel, renewable energy and carbon.

This publication contains oral and written evidence taken before the Committee in their inquiry into the Government's Climate Change Programme announced in March 2006 (in its White Paper 'Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge' Cm. 6764, ISBN 0101676425). It includes contributions from officials from Defra, the Confederation of British Industry, the UK Sustainable Development Commission, Greater London Authority and local authorities.

This White Paper sets out the UK's transition plan to 2020 for becoming a low carbon country: cutting emissions, maintaining secure energy supply, maximising economic opportunities and protecting the most vulnerable. The plan will deliver emission cuts of 18 per cent on 2008 levels. Key steps include: all government departments to have carbon budgets; 40 per cent of energy from low carbon sources including 30 per cent of energy from renewables; funding of four demonstrations of capturing and storing emissions from coal power stations; new nuclear power stations. Home will be made greener by: £3.2 billion to help households become more energy efficient; rolling out smart meters to all homes by 2020; piloting "pay as you save" schemes; introducing clean energy cash-back schemes; a competition for 15 towns and villages to be pioneers in green innovation. Vulnerable sections of society will be helped by: mandated social price support; piloting a community-based approach to delivering green homes in low income areas, helping around 90,000 homes; increasing Warm Front grants. The greening of industry will be addressed through support for development and use of clean technologies, including £120 million in offshore wind and £60 million towards marine energy. Transport will be transformed: carbon dioxide emissions from new cars to be cut across the EU by 40 per cent on 2007 levels and increased support for electric cars; sourcing 10 per cent of UK transport energy from renewable sources. A framework for emissions from farming will be developed. Also published are "The UK renewable energy strategy" (Cm. 7686, ISBN 9780101768627) and "Low carbon transport" (Cm. 7682, ISBN 9780101768221).