Both countries have today, May 28, commissioned a joint study looking into how quickly the sea bed could be needed for carbon dioxide storage and what the UK, Norway and other countries have to do to get it ready.

The announcement of the plan was made at the conference on Climate Change and Technology in Bergen, Norway.

At the same meeting the two countries also agreed to work together on carbon capture storage initiatives.

Lord Phil Hunt and the Norwegian minister Terje Riis-Johansen announcing the scheme together said the aim of the study would be to build a profile for the whole of the north sea.

Lord Hunt, minister of state for energy and climate change in the UK, said: “Today’s agreement reaffirms the UK’s leadership in tackling the emissions from fossil fuel power generation. Carbon capture and storage has the potential to reduce emissions from coal-fired power stations by around 90%.

“The strength of the UK’s offshore industries means we are well-placed to store that carbon dioxide under the North Sea.

“The benefits of CCS are not only environmental. There are clear business and job opportunities to be found in green energy technology.

Luke Walsh

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