HAVING secured €180m worth of European cash, Hatfield is set to develop the UK's first carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology and possibly create thousands of jobs.
Powerfuel Plc's proposed plant was recommended for the funding last month and members of the European Parliament had six weeks to object, taking them to last Saturday.
No objections were lodged and there are now no committees left at which objecti
ons can be made. This means Powerfuel's power is another step closer to being the first CCS project in the UK.
Yorkshire Forward's chief executive Tom Riordan said: "This is great news for the region. There is no better place to do carbon capture and storage than Yorkshire and Humber.
"Nowhere in Europe has such a large number of industrial carbon emitters so close to safe carbon storage in depleted gas fields in the North Sea, and the region has access to proven technology and engineering skills.
"We have the potential of storing up to 10 per cent of the UK's carbon emissions, creating thousands of jobs and creating an infrastructure that could attract energy intensive industries that want a solution for their carbon emissions."
Richard Budge, Powerfuel chief executive said: "We are delighted that our application for the European Economic Recovery Package funding has been successful and would like to express our gratitude to all those who have supported our project since 2002.
"Initially Doncaster MBC and Yorkshire Forward, who have been very instrumental in identifying the benefits of the Humber cluster and the potential for environmental improvement and to local MP's, MEP's and the Government who are seeking to put the policies in place which will accelerate the expansion of the carbon capture storage industry resulting in significant environmental benefits."
Rosie Winterton MP, Minister for Yorkshire added: "A carbon capture and storage project at Hatfield will ensure that Yorkshire and The Humber is leading the way in clean coal technology.
"It will bring huge economic benefits to our region and shows our commitment to cutting carbon emissions and dealing with this global issue."
The 900 megawatt plant will use CCS technology, which involves liquefying carbon dioxide emissions by burning fossil fuels and then pumping it out to depleted gas fields.
Hatfield's location is ideal for developing a CCS Cluster because of its proximity to a large number of power stations that are close to depleted gas fields in the North Sea where carbon can be safely stored and within 15 years could cut CO2 emissions by up to 60 million tonnes in the region.
Yorkshire Forward has been working closely with Powerfuel and the National Grid to develop part of scheme to build a network of CO2 pipelines linking power stations and major industrial installations across Yorkshire and Humberside. The construction of the new network is expected to start in the next two years.
