Edinburgh University will today formally sign a significant collaboration with the University of Regina in Saskatchewan, Canada which will pave the way for strategic international research into Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
Carbon-capture is the technology that holds the potential to transform how global carbon emissions are reduced towards zero following the Paris climate talks (COP21).
The agreement – to be formally signed at an international academic summit hosted by Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage – will establish up to three C$10,000 MSc scholarships each year with funding support from the Canadian CCS pioneer, SaskPower.
In October 2014, the utility company’s Boundary Dam project was the world’s first large-scale CCS scheme on coal power to begin operating.
Successful students for this competitive award will be accepted as visiting graduate students at Regina after completing two semesters of the University of Edinburgh’s MSc in CCS.
Though UK Government policy on CCS is going through an adjustment in emphasis, the research and development (R&D) budget on CCS is being increased and international collaboration is being actively encouraged.
Prof. Stuart Haszeldine, Professor of Carbon Capture and Storage at Edinburgh University, and SCCS Director, said: “We are using this opportunity to cement tangible international links between 16 leading academic institutes worldwide, and align research and development funding and objectives.
“This is practical international partnership and innovation in action between nine nations to boost worldwide deployment of new technology against climate change.”
Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage is an independent academic and applied research partnership of British Geological Survey, and Heriot-Watt, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Strathclyde universities.
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