Under the contract, AMEC will carry out the FEED for the transportation element of the Carbon Capture Storage project.

This is being undertaken by a consortium comprising lead-partner Scottish Power, Shell and National Grid Carbon.

The project aims to capture more than two million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year from the power station and transport it for storage under the North Sea.

It is part of the Government’s Carbon Capture and Storage competition in which 300MW of power must incorporate CCS by 2014.

The bulk of this project is being funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

“This is the first project of its type in the UK and Europe on a scheme of this size and is a major step towards combating climate change and ensuring future energy security,” said Clive White, Vice President of AMEC’s Consulting and Engineering business.

“Not only is CCS critical in enabling ongoing use of coal and gas for power generation but it also has the potential to benefit the UK economy by providing a platform for the development of new industries and the creation of high-value jobs.”

Amec’s study will look at the three elements of the transportation of the carbon dioxide: a new pipeline, conversion of Feeder 10 pipeline and the compressor station design at St Fergus, which fall within National Grid’s responsibility to the consortium.

The engineering firm will evaluate a new gas compressor station, reuse of 250km of existing natural gas pipeline and 21km of new pipeline.

The study also includes design work, plant selection, environmental impact assessments, health and safety assessments and costing.

A recent Scottish government study published said: “There is the potential for a whole new industry to emerge in Scotland, which could support up to an estimated 10,000 new jobs in the next 10-15 years.”

ScottishPower executives believe that they can have the equipment working on one of Longannet’s four 600 megawatt units by 2014.

The consortium is competing with a similar carbon capture project proposed at E.ON’s plant at Kingsnorth in Kent.