The Paris Agreement commits the EU to a target of keeping global temperature rise to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius, necessitating “net-zero” emissions in the second half of the century. As a significant global emitter of CO2 the EU must be ambitious in its delivery of this target. This necessitates action to decarbonise all sections of the economy by 2050.
Modelling demonstrates that Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) will be essential to meeting decarbonisation targets at least cost. CCS enables decarbonisation in industry, heating, transport and power. However, progress on CCS has been slow and requires coordinated action between Member States and the EU Commission to realise projects.
The transition to a low-carbon economy must ensure the competitiveness of the EU economy, to retain highly skilled jobs, and enable the EU to host energy intensive industries while delivering on climate goals. The EU can support industries by developing of CO2 transport and storage infrastructure which is accessed by CO2 emitters enabling them to cost competitively reduce their CO2 emissions.
Addressing climate change supports the future prosperity and stability of society. It is important that the EU demonstrates international leadership in meeting the Paris Agreement target.
The objectives of the project were to:
• Develop recommendations on the policy and regulatory interventions that can successfully address the technical and non-technical barriers to the delivery of innovation in CCS and the wider energy sector.
• Develop a clear set of recommendations that help define CCS Research & Innovation (R&I) priorities, strategies, investment programmes and project selection decisions.
• Improve understanding of the challenges and opportunities of energy system integration between CCS and other energy technologies both within and between the power and energy intensive industries.
• Support public authorities, e.g. the European Commission and Member States, on the actions – including R&I, financial mechanisms and addressing barriers – required to underpin CCS innovation.
• Effectively contribute to the work of the Strategic Energy Technologies Plan (SET-Plan) ensuring that its activities receive the necessary support from stakeholders to enable successful delivery.
The conclusions of the project demonstrate that CCS remains an important element of Europe’s response to the energy transition. A broader set of stakeholders is emerging with an interest in developing CCS as part of a sustainable future for EU industries. These extend beyond the traditional scope of the application of CCS to power and industry to also consider how CCS can support other important CO2 emitting sectors, e.g. heating and transport.
The Platform has developed a clear set of recommendations outlining how CCS could develop in Europe. This includes recommendations on how to develop CO2 transport and storage infrastructure as a public good; how to utilise EU, member state and private funding for first projects; and the role of CCS in decarbonising multiple areas of the economy including heating and industry.
