UK: AMEC Awarded FEED Contract by National Grid for Major Carbon Capture and Storage Project

AMEC, the international engineering and project management company, has been awarded a front-end engineering design (FEED) contract from National Grid Carbon for a carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at Longannet Power Station in Fife, Scotland.

The value of the contract has not been announced.

Under the contract, AMEC will carry out the FEED for the transportation element of the CCS project, which is being undertaken by a consortium comprising lead-partner Scottish Power, Shell and National Grid Carbon to whom AMEC is directly contracted.

It is intended that the project will capture more than two million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year from the power station and transport it for storage under the North Sea. It is part of the UK Government’s Carbon Capture and Storage competition in which 300MW of power must incorporate CCS by 2014. The bulk of this project will be funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

“This is the first project of its type in the UK and Europe on a scheme of this size and is a major step towards combating climate change and ensuring future energy security,” said Clive White, Vice President of AMEC’s Consulting and Engineering business. “When viewed alongside the many CCS studies we have carried out in the UK and around the world, it reinforces AMEC’s position as the UK’s leading CO2 compression and transportation design consultancy.

“Not only is CCS critical in enabling ongoing use of coal and gas for power generation but it also has the potential to benefit the UK economy by providing a platform for the development of new industries and the creation of high-value jobs.”

AMEC’s study will look at the three elements of the transportation of the carbon dioxide: a new pipeline, conversion of Feeder 10 pipeline and the compressor station design at St Fergus, which fall within National Grid’s responsibility to the consortium. AMEC will evaluate a new gas compressor station, reuse of 250 kilometres of existing natural gas pipeline and 21 kilometres of new pipeline. The study also includes design work, plant selection, environmental impact assessments, health and safety assessments and costing.

AMEC plc

AMEC  is a focused supplier of high-value consultancy, engineering and project management services to the world’s natural resources, nuclear, clean energy, water and environmental sectors. With annual revenues of over £2.5 billion, AMEC designs, delivers and maintains strategic and complex assets for its customers. The company employs some 23,000 people in around 40 countries worldwide.

National Grid Carbon is a business unit set up by National Grid to develop CO2 gas gathering networks and transmission systems. National Grid operates Britain’s high-voltage electricity transmission and gas distribution networks and has unrivalled experience of operating safe and effective pipeline networks.

[mappress]

Source: AMEC , October 7, 2010;