19th October 2009 - Carbon capture investment in Hatfield, Doncaster

Linda has welcomed the breaking news that the European Commission is to recommend a €180 million (£165 million) investment in developing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology at Hatfield in Doncaster.

The money is expected to create hundreds jobs in the locality, on and around the project, building a ground breaking demonstration project of carbon capture technology.

Carbon capture technology prevents the carbon released during combustion from being released into the atmosphere, thus cutting the emissions that cause climate change.

The Hatfield site would be one of the biggest coal-fired electric power stations fitted with CCS anywhere in the world.

The proposal now needs the support of the European Parliament.

Linda McAvan was one of the MEPs who led moves two years ago to allow carbon capture technology and fund the demonstration projects. She said:

“This is great news for Doncaster – investment and jobs in the green economy at exactly the time they are most needed. It gives us the opportunity to put Yorkshire at the forefront of developing the technologies of the future, maintaining energy supplies and protecting the environment at the same time. I will be urging my fellow MEPs to support the proposal as it comes before the European Parliament.”

The Hatfield project is understood to be one of five schemes to be recommended for funding. The European Commission hopes to have 12 CCS demonstration projects by 2012, and has pledge more than a billion euros to support the projects as part of its economic recovery stimulus package.