Scottish Enterprise’s Energy and Low Carbon Technologies team has announced an agreement with Glasgow based TUV NEL, an international technology services organisation, to drive forward the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) opportunities in Scotland.

As initial step in this contract, TUV NEL Senior Consultant, John Morgan, will be seconded to work alongside Scottish Enterprise's energy team and act as CCS Champion in Scotland. Acting as a focal point for Scottish Enterprise activities in the area of CCS, John’s main duties will include assisting Scottish Enterprise and other public sector agencies to develop a coherent strategy for the development of CCS.

Speaking of his new role, John said: "I look forward to working as an integral member of the Scottish Enterprise energy team, building on the existing CCS roadmap to make a significant contribution to the economic development of CCS in Scotland.

"According to the CCS roadmap, jointly published by the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise in March 2010, there is the potential for a whole new industry to emerge in Scotland, which could support up to an estimated 10,000 new jobs in the next 15 to 20 years. In view of this, my role will specially focus on establishing close links with major industry and academic partners, as well as the broader stakeholder community, with current involvement or potential interest in development of CCS and advise them of future opportunities.

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“I will work towards building strong working relationships with potential funding partners to ensure that maximum available funding in support of CCS is attracted to Scotland.”

David Rennie of Scottish Enterprise Energy Team added: “We are delighted with this new agreement as TUV NEL supports our work in developing CCS opportunities for Scottish businesses. Recently, Scottish Enterprise Energy Team conducted a foresighting exercise which highlighted the major opportunities for Scottish companies. We recognise the need to develop a sustainable and profitable CCS industry, for which there will be a requirement to ensure that supply chain, infrastructure and skills set are fit for purpose.

"There is a large storage capacity in depleted oil and gas fields and saline aquifers in the North Sea, and much of this is well understood having been mapped during oil and gas exploration activities; so there is much to play for. It is estimated that the potential global market opportunity could be worth around £5000 billion, and the Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government CCS Industry Advisory Group believes that a significant part of this opportunity can be realised in Scotland."

John has previously played key consultancy roles in innovation programmes including technical and financial due diligence, technology transfer, business analysis, re-engineering, supply chain integration and techno-economic analysis. As part of his current activities, he undertakes key responsibilities within TUV NEL for the delivery of major UK and European collaborative R&D programmes.

(GK)