Revenues from Shale Gas Should Be Used for R&D in CCS Technology, Says Taskforce

The third report of the Task Force on Shale Gas argues that shale gas has a role to play in the UK energy mix over the medium term, adding that the unconventional hydrocarbon industry could help developing Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies, which are considered crucial in the long run. 

“The UK will only meet its binding climate commitments by moving in the long term to renewable and low carbon energy sources” Lord Chris Smith, chair of the Task Force on Shale Gas, commented in the emailed note. 

Smith claims that gas will be needed for several decades to come, explaining that revenues from shale gas should be used to increase investments in CCS technologies. 

“We make two strong recommendations to make sure this happens in the right way.  First, there must be immediate progress in developing carbon capture and storage for gas-fired power stations and industrial plant.  And second, we recommend that the Government should deploy revenue derived from a developed shale gas industry to investment in R&D and innovation in CCS and low carbon energy generation, storage and distribution” Smith said. 

The recommendations of the 4-people panel are the result of meetings with experts and communities over the last months. As reported in the press release, the Task Force will publish its final report in December 2015 covering economics, together with its final conclusions and recommendations.