Queen's speech expected to outline CCS levy for energy suppliers - 18/11/2009
More people could compare energy prices from different sources soon as the Queen's speech today (November 18th) is expected to include a levy for carbon capture and storage (CCS) research.
Electricity companies are forecast to be faced with a levy of nearly £10 billion to help fund four separate CCS plants that will be used to test whether carbon emissions can be captured on a commercially viable basis, reports the Guardian.
At the moment, however, only two of the intended CCS test projects have moved to the next stage of the government's CCS competition and criticism is mounting regarding the progress of the research.
The government has reiterated its commitment to CCS as coal-fired power stations are expected to remain an integral part of the UK's energy infrastructure for several years, given that new nuclear power plants will not be operational until 2017.
CCS technology involves capturing the carbon dioxide produced when fossil fuels are burned and transferring it to special storage facilities rather than releasing it into the atmosphere.
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