Fife Council has backed the commitment by Scottish Power Generation to the installation of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) plant at Longannet Generating Station.

The changes to the plant will significantly reduce the levels of nitrous oxide released into the atmosphere as part of the electricity generating process.

The changes will also safeguard local jobs at the plant until at least 2030 and generated 100’s of new temporary construction jobs.

The company also plans to install the UK’s first prototype carbon capture test facility. Along with its partners Shell and National Grid, it aims to develop this into commercial scale technology at Longannet by 2014.

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This would allow the capture of the vast majority of carbon dioxide from the site, making a major contribution to delivering Scottish Government climate change targets.

Scottish Power and its partners are bidding for both UK government and European Union funding support for the development of this new technology, and if successful, these bids would ensure that Longannet and Fife is at the heart of an emerging new industry sector which could create thousands of new jobs across the country.

Councillor Tony Martin, chair of environment, enterprise & transportation committee welcomed the installation of this new facility adding: "This vital new technology offers huge opportunities for Fife and the Scottish Economy, in jobs and investment.

"In line with the Council's Big 8 objectives to become Scotland’s leading green council and to improve local conditions for Economic Development, it is essential that Fife is promoted effectively as a location for renewable energy technologies, particularly those which will assist in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, to help address climate change."

The bid has been publicly endorsed by the World Wildlife Fund in view of its potential contribution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

(GK/BMcC)