18th January 2008

Geo-pressure and 2OC…Yes Minister

2oc is delighted that geo-pressure will continue to be included within the Renewables Obligation and wishes to thank all those who supported us in the Renewables Obligation Consultation.
Geo-pressure is now officially the UK’s newest form of renewable energy, with similar status to onshore wind; hydro-electric; and co-firing of energy crops. We should add thanks to the government and its civil servants within the Department for Business and Regulatory Reform (BERR) for taking considerable time and trouble to consider our arguments. Governments are often accused of not listening, this one did.

Here is part of the official response from BERR:

“The Government believes that geopressure can be an efficient use of resources and that it has the potential to be a low-carbon energy source. The evidence presented by those in favour of the inclusion of geopressure were that geopressure itself is renewable and can be carried by a variety of fluids which will in time replace the natural gas in these reservoirs. Based on this evidence, we no longer intend to exclude geopressure from the RO.....”

Inclusion within the RO will enable 2oc to push ahead with plans at home and around the world to generate cleaner electricity.

Commenting on the decision, 2oc Chairman Lord Oxburgh said: “The government has helped us to show world leadership in the fight against climate change. We are already talking to a number of partners in the UK and globally who are as keen as we are to exploit this clean, renewable energy. Inclusion within the RO is recognition that geo-pressure has a significant role to play in securing diversified energy supplies, while at the same time reducing our carbon footprint.”

2oc has entered a Joint Venture with National Grid to use geo-pressure technology to generate power for the UK.

ends