AN ALL-ISLAND geological study shows that Ireland has a dozen offshore locations with the potential to store carbon emissions from power stations under the sea.

The survey of existing data, which was carried out by Geological Survey Northern Ireland and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), will be published by Eamon Ryan, minister for energy and natural resources, on September 17. It is the first step in evaluating Ireland’s potential for storing carbon.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a new technology that has been hailed as having the potential to help countries meet their commitments to reduce carbon emissions while allowing the continued use of cheap fossil fuels such as coal.

CCS can capture up to 90% of carbon from a power plant so that it can be piped directly underground for storage.

The Irish study has found that depleted gas fields such as Kinsale and other areas such as Strangford Lough and the Peel Basin near the Isle of Man show “promise” in being suitable for storing liquified or gaseous carbon.

“Carbon capture and storage is a promising technology option which is quickly gathering interest at a worldwide level,” said Graham Brennan, research and development manager at SEI.

The all-island survey must now be followed up with detailed studies to see if areas identified as “promising” contain the necessary geological “trap” that will allow carbon to flow in and settle without escaping.

SEI is hoping to establish a pilot test project by 2012. One possible location is in the Morecambe Bay gas fields, east of the Isle of Man, in what would be a joint venture with Britain.

A detailed financial examination by the study estimates it will be 2020 before it becomes economically viable for power stations to employ CCS technology.

After 2012 polluters such as power stations will have to pay large sums of money, possibly €100 per tonne of carbon, for the pollution they emit by way of carbon credits.

As part of Ireland’s examination of CCS as a way of reducing emissions, next month the EPA and SEI will also announce the award of a €1m research project to examine the suitability of saline aquifers in Co Clare to store carbon from the Moneypoint coal-fired power station, which is Ireland’s biggest polluter.

The 18-month-long project will cost a further €600,000 if drilling is required to establish the suitability of the region for carbon storage.

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