The Department of Energy and Climate Change has explained the importance of carbon capture and storage to complement UK energy saving efforts.

Minister of state for energy Charles Hendry says: "Carbon capture and storage is essential for mitigating climate change while maintaining energy security."

While energy saving efforts can help to reduce carbon emissions going into the future, carbon storage can also help to lock away the carbon dioxide produced in the past.

According to Mr Hendry, a century's emissions could be stored in the North Sea ocean floor.

The government has consulted on the plans to store carbon dioxide geologically, with proposals received including the suggestion that the entire process should be licensed to allow firms to become directly involved.

At the time of the consultation's launch, Ed Miliband, who was then energy and climate change secretary, said that the move was part of an effort to establish a regulatory framework, allowing the UK to benefit from carbon capture and storage.