Commission sets up world's first project network for CO2 Capture and Storage

20 Sep 2010 07:17 AM

The European Commission has completed the launch of the EU tool that supports early large-scale demonstration of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technologies.

The CCS Project Network is the world's first network of CCS demonstration projects to foster knowledge sharing and raise public understanding of the role of CCS in cutting CO2 emissions.

This will accelerate learning and ensure that the Commission can assist CCS to safely fulfil its potential and become a commercially viable technology.

Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger said: "CCS is one of the key technologies that we need to develop today to make the necessary deep cuts in carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector in the coming decades. It is a very positive step forward for the major project developers in Europe to work together and to inform scientists, industry and the public about their progress. Knowledge sharing will be essential for accelerating the deployment of clean energy technologies in Europe and worldwide."

The first network members who have signed a joint agreement to share knowledge are all CCS projects supported by the European Commission's European Energy Programme for Recovery (EEPR).

As a condition for receiving EU funding each beneficiary is required to disseminate the project results as widely as possible.  The goal is to create a prominent community of projects united in the goal of achieving commercially viable CCS by 2020.

To guarantee that the work of the CCS Project Network is valuable to the wider energy community in Europe, an annual Advisory Forum has been established to review progress and specify the knowledge that can most usefully be generated by the CCS Project Network activities.

Last week's meeting wae the first Advisory Forum, co-chaired by the European Commission and the European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants (ZEP) with representatives of Member States, ZEP, CCS demonstration projects, the research and NGO communities, and international organisations.

Further details on the CCS Project Network are described on the website: http://www.ccsnetwork.eu/