Brussels, 09/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 8 April, the European Commission authorised aid that the UK intends to grant to conduct two front end engineering and feasibility studies (FEED studies) on two industrial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) demonstration projects. The FEED studies should reduce the technical, environmental and financial risks of the construction of a commercial scale coal-fired power plant equipped with post-combustion CCS technology. The Commission found the measure to be compatible with the relevant provisions of the EC Treaty (Article 87.3.c), which, under certain conditions, allows aid for the development of economic activities or regions, because it is proportionate and contains safeguards minimising potential distortions of competition. (O.L./transl.jl)