The European Commission’s SET-plan identifies Carbon Capture and Storage as one of its ten research priorities towards cost-effectively achieving a fundamental transformation of Europe’s energy system.
To achieve CCS at commercial scale, the EU requires strong political direction, the right funding mechanisms and a robust investment environment. In this context, ZEP’s plan lays out concrete steps for delivering CCS through existing policies and public financing opportunities and introduces a business model that will ensure a strong case for investing in CCS.
Dr Graeme Sweeney, Chairman of the Zero Emissions Platform, said, "The logic that emitting CO2 is cheaper than capturing and storing it needs to be disrupted. We have a proven technology available but now must remove the remaining obstacles to make a sound business case for infrastructure development. This plan introduces European “Market Makers”, either state-owned or regulated private entities, as efficient and cost-effective mechanisms for accelerating the deployment of CCS by creating flexibility in the market. These can be the catalyst for translating intentions into actions."
Dr Luke Warren, Chief Executive of the CCSA, commented, “This report represents another important step towards re-injecting much-needed momentum into CCS in Europe. ZEP has rightly identified the importance of ensuring that CCS projects in development get over the finish line – this will be vital in the UK where the Government will soon be making critical decisions on the next steps for the White Rose and Peterhead CCS competition projects."
"As the Plan highlights, timely development of transport & storage infrastructure will be key to laying the foundations for CCS clusters across Europe. European funding has already helped to support the early development of transport and storage infrastructure in the Yorkshire and Humber region of the UK – through a grant of Euro 180 million to the Don Valley power project – and we anticipate further EU support for project development under the proposed EU Innovation Fund."
"Alongside the EU institutions, the Plan also emphasises the key role that EU Member States will need to play in enabling the cost-effective deployment of CCS infrastructure. In the UK the CCSA has called on Government to establish grant funding of up to £100 million to bring forward sufficient CO2 storage capacity to support the deployment of CCS in the North Sea over the next decade."
"With the countdown to the Paris COP meeting well and truly underway, and countries such as the US coming forward with ambitious CCS programmes, it is now time for the European Commission and EU Member States to rekindle the CCS fire and demonstrate to the world that CCS is a vital part of the EU’s climate and energy strategy."