CO2 Utilisation Challenge Fund applications: EIR release

Information requested

1. How many applications have been received by the CO2 utilisation challenge fund (hereafter referred to simply as ‘the fund’)?

2. How many applications have been reviewed by the fund?

3. A breakdown of fund amount requested in each application, with a summary of purpose for each.

4. If, at any point, applications were assessed my means of giving numerical scoring -

a. 'Scoring’/’rating’ given to each application overall

b. 'Scoring’/’rating’ given to the subsections/sub-criteria of each application

c. Score agreed as a benchmark for approval.”

Response

As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

As of 30 August 2023 no applications have been received by the CO2 Utilisation Challenge Fund and therefore none have been reviewed or assessed.

Out with the EIRs request, you may wish to note that the Scottish Government remains supportive of Carbon Capture and Utilisation which has the potential to help develop a circular economy while providing opportunities for our workforces and economic benefits for a range of different sectors and continues to support the CO2 Utilisation Challenge Fund, which aims to support the development and demonstration of technologies that can utilise carbon dioxide and transform it into products that have market and commercial value.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.