英國與挪威已簽訂一項協議，將合作進行北海海床地層地質組成的開發案，以永久儲存從歐洲所收集到的溫室氣體二氧化碳。
正在北海進行的Sleipner碳儲存示範計畫。圖片來源： North Sea Basin Task Force。
5月29日於挪威卑爾根（Bergen）舉行的「氣候變遷與科技」（Climate Change and Technology）高層會議中，挪威石油與能源部長瑞斯約翰森（Terje Riis-Johansen）及英國能源與氣候變遷政務部長杭特爵士（Lord Phil Hunt）達成協議，將共同組成一項研究計畫來確認北海可扮演的角色。北海在1996年起就已開始進行碳捕集與儲存的示範計畫。
這次的新計畫將建構出北海的完整資料，評估每一個國家的儲存潛力，估算出二氧化碳流（carbon dioxide flows）可能的體積與位置，以面對越來越高得的碳排放代價。
兩位部長表示，這項研究將確認網絡問題，並提出一些方法來處理跨國境二氧化碳流。
杭特爵士表示：「今天（5月29日）的協議，再度確認了英國處理化石燃料發電二氧化碳排放上的領導地位。碳捕集與儲存技術，有潛力降低90%燃煤發電廠排放量，而英國外海工業的實力表示我們有優勢，能在北海下儲存二氧化碳」。
瑞斯約翰森也對會議代表提出相似的說法：「碳捕集及儲存具有降低85-95%化石燃料發電廠二氧化碳排放量的潛力；但是我們不能忘記，這項技術也具有提供降低其他工業流程排放量的高度潛力。這些工業流程包括煤製油流程（coal-to-liquids）、液化天然氣、水泥、氧化鋁（alumina）、以及鋼的製造等」。
他指出：「事實上，這些工業最有可能顯示出碳捕集的早期機會以及所謂垂手可得的成果」。
北海海盆工作小組（North Sea Basin Task Force）在2007及2008年的初期研究發現，北海之下具有儲存二氧化碳的高度潛力。這次所提的計畫是下一階段的工作，將提出更多證據來顯示北海海底層用來進行歐洲碳捕集與儲存的重要性為何。
杭特爵士表示：「碳捕集與儲存並不僅對環境具有好處，在綠能技術領域還有明確的生意及工作機會。這個研究將協助歐洲各國政府一起行動，將二氧化碳安全地儲存在北海之下，並將規劃碳捕集與儲存的執行工作。」
這個研究將觀察北海海底對二氧化碳儲存的需求有多殷切，以及英國、挪威及其他國家必須進行哪些工作來將北海海床準備好及時運作。
這2位部長也同意要卑爾根會議之後繼續進行活動，來促使國際對碳捕集與封存扮演角色的認同，包括由2位部長共同主持10月份在倫敦舉行的「碳封存領導力論壇」（Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum）會議。
The UK and Norway have signed an agreement to cooperate on the development of North Sea sub-seabed geological formations for permanent storage of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide captured from European sources.
At a high-level conference on Climate Change and Technology Friday in Bergen, Terje Riis-Johansen, the Norwegian minister of petroleum and energy and Lord Phil Hunt, the UK minister of state for energy and climate change, agreed to jointly commission a study on the role of the North Sea, where a demonstration carbon capture and storage project has been underway since 1996.
The new study will build a profile for the whole of the North Sea, assessing each country's storage potential and projections of likely volumes and locations of carbon dioxide flows, against a rising price of carbon.
The study will identify network issues and propose methods for managing CO2 flows across borders, the ministers said.
Lord Hunt 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 percent. The strength of the UK's offshore industries means we are well-placed to store that carbon dioxide under the North Sea.
Riis-Johansen cited similar figures. "Carbon capture and storage offers the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 85 to 95 percent from fossil fueled power plants," he told conference delegates.
"However, we must not forget that this technology also offers a large potential for emission reductions from other industrial processes, such as coal-to-liquids, liquefied natural gas, cement, alumina and steel production," said Riis-Johansen.
"In fact, these industries may most likely present the early opportunities for carbon capture and the so-called 'low hanging fruits,' he said.
Initial studies in 2007 and 2008 by the North Sea Basin Task Force found that there was great potential to provide carbon dioxide storage under the North Sea. This study is the next step and will provide further evidence as to how important the sub-seabed of the North Sea will be in the deployment of carbon capture and storage in Europe.
Lord Hunt said, "The benefits of carbon capture and storage are not only environmental. There are clear business and job opportunities to be found in green energy technology."
"This study will help assist the governments in Europe to work together to store carbon dioxide safely under the North Sea and to plan the implementation of carbon capture and storage," he said.
The study will look at how quickly the sea bed of the North Sea could be needed for carbon dioxide storage and what the UK, Norway and other countries have to do to get it ready in time.
The two ministers also agreed agreed to follow up the Bergen conference by campaigning for international recognition of the role that carbon capture and storage can play, including through their joint hosting of the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum meeting in London in October.
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