Carbon Sequestration

Most of the proposed ‘carbon capture and storage’ (CCS) schemes would pipe the CO₂ emitted from power stations into large holes in the ground, usually former oil and natural gas fields but occasionally current oil fields. This project sequesters CO₂ in a different, perhaps simpler way. It will follow some of the established methods to secure increased biodiversity and to store more carbon in the topsoil and the standing biomass; i.e., the shrubs and trees.

On this plot of land, the estimated rate of CCS in the long term is as much as three tonnes of CO₂ per year. This is a considerable improvement on the overall rate of sequestration in normal UK farmland which is approximately zero at the present time.

Biological CCS is not 'rocket science'. It could do with urgent investigation, given the relatively positive claims which have been made for this method to absorb some of today's CO₂ emissions and to complement other techniques. It would be very useful if the authorities would make some scientific measurements on agricultural and other land across the UK which is managed this way.