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Advice to Chris Anastasi

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Enquiry

From
Chris Anastasi
Date advice given
30 April 2013
Enquiry type
Email

I have a technical question on CCS which hopefully you are able to answer. We are looking at potential new build options at our Deeside plant in North Wales – the site is separated into an ‘A’ and ‘B‘ areas, with the current plant on the ‘A’ part of the site. Our understanding is that if we wish to build a new gas plant on the ‘B’ part of the site we will have to ensure there is sufficient land available to be able to retrofit CCS once that technology is proven, with 2040 the target year; this will be the case once the plant on the ‘A’ site is decommissioned which could happen by about 2025. Would this satisfy the CCS regulations concerning new plant on the ‘B’ part of the site?

Can you provide any advice please?

Advice given

Thank you for your email regarding Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture Readiness (CCR) in relation to a potential new generating station at your Deeside plant in North Wales.

I can confirm that you are correct that if you wish to build a new gas powered generating station on the ‘B’ part of your site, you will have to ensure that sufficient space is available on or near the site to accommodate carbon capture equipment in the future, as required by National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1).

Unfortunately, I am unable to confirm whether or not your suggestion of allocating the 'A' part of your site for CCS is acceptable, as this would be a matter initially for you to consult on at the pre-application stage, and subsequently for the Examining Authority during any Examination. However, I would refer you to the National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) section 4.7, and the Department of Energy and Climate Change Guidance 'Carbon Capture Readiness (CCR) a Guidance Note for Section 36 Applications', paragraphs 15-16.

Your pre-application work should aim to identify potential issues with how you are approaching CCS, so you may wish to seek an early view from the local authority on the in principle suitability of the 'A' part of the site, and any other consultees who you consider may have a useful view. In addition, an Examining Authority would need sufficient information to consider the issue against the NPS, any representations received and any matters they may consider important and relevant. In due course, as part of any application you could usefully set out why you consider your chosen area to be suitable. In addition, your consultation report should explain how you have had regard to any views from consultees should they raise this as a matter in any response.