The CO2 Utilisation Challenge Fund will help businesses and organisations develop and commercialise the technology, which involves harnessing and converting CO2<\/sub> \u2013 the biggest contributor to climate change emissions \u2013 and using it to produce valuable products such as synthetic fuels and proteins for use in aquaculture.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The CO2 Utilisation Challenge Fund will be administered by Scottish Enterprise and match-funded by industry, meaning over \u00a310 million could be invested in the initiative over its two-year lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Net Zero and Energy Secretary Michael Matheson<\/strong> said: \u201cThe Scottish Government is fully committed to helping Scotland become a net zero economy. The IPCC\u2019s latest reports show that the impacts of climate change are even worse than previously thought and that business as usual is not an option.<\/p> \u201cWe know that, in order to deliver on our targets, we must develop and grow innovative technologies like carbon capture and utilisation, alongside carbon capture and storage.<\/p> \u201cPromising early work around potential uses for captured CO2<\/sub> shows that CO2<\/sub> utilisation has real potential to help develop a circular economy while providing opportunities for our workforces and economic benefits for a range of different sectors.<\/p> \u201cWhilst the UK Government have to date failed to sufficiently back carbon capture and storage in Scotland the launch of this \u00a35 million Fund underlines our commitment to making sure Scotland is at the forefront of new industrial opportunities that will result from a future with carbon capture, utilisation and storage deployment.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Andy McDonald<\/strong>, head of low carbon transition at Scottish Enterprise, said: \u201cThis fund will help ensure we remain at the forefront of the global effort to tackle climate change by supporting innovative Scottish companies with the ambition, capability and expertise to utilise CO2<\/sub> and transform it into products with commercial value.<\/p> “Carbon utilisation technology has wide-reaching benefits for both Scotland\u2019s low carbon economy and the environment. This fund will boost this dynamic and emerging sector by facilitating the creation of more high-value jobs while also helping Scotland reach its net zero emissions target.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n The CO2 Utilisation Fund is a Programme for Government commitment 2020\/21.<\/p>\n\n\n\nBackground<\/h3>\n\n\n\n