Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirms carbon capture plans in Scotland

The prime minister has announced support for a carbon capture projects in Scotland today.

This was at the same time as Rishi Sunak confirmed the granting of 100 new North Sea oil and gas licences during a visit to the area, which was met with a mixed reception, with opponents saying that the Conservatives are “doubling down” on the use of fossil fuels.

Mr Sunak defended the new oil and gas licences as “the right thing to do” saying that the plans would help it grow the economy, meet its 2050 net zero commitment and strengthen the UK’s wider energy security by becoming less reliant on imported gas.

He was quick to point out that even when Britain reaches net zero in 2050, a quarter of the countries needs will come from oil and gas and domestic gas production has about a quarter or third of the carbon footprint of imported gas.

The government confirmed that investment in carbon capture now will mean that 10 mega tonnes of carbon dioxide will be captured and stored by 2030. It effectively sucks carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere at source, stops it being released and stores it. It can be re-used or it is stored underground.

There have been questions raised recently about the governments ability to meet its 2050 net zero target, with its climate advisors having warned the UK risks falling behand without much faster action.

Net zero means no longer adding to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.