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CCS Project Network

The European Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) Demonstration Project Network was launched in autumn 2009.  Its primary, initial aim is to enhance co-ordination between the earliest players involved in European CCS demonstration projects.

The CCS Project Network website, is maintained on behalf of the European Commission by the contractor to inform stakeholders and the public about its CCS Project Network activities.  Consequently, the Commission accepts no responsibility or liability with regard to the content published on that site.  The goal is to keep the information timely and accurate.  If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them.  Please send an email if you have any questions.

Supporting CCS demonstration

The European Council endorsed in March 2007 the Commission's intention to stimulate the construction and operation of a set of CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS) demonstration projects by 2015. The successful operation of these demonstration projects is seen as crucial for widespread commercial application of this technology. It is considered feasible that CCS will be able to stand on its own feet in an Emission Trading Scheme (ETS)-driven system by 2020 or soon after.

In its Communication "Supporting Early Demonstration of Sustainable Power Generation from Fossil Fuels" [COM(2008) 13], the Commission presented a strategy to support the development of these CCS demonstration projects, including the launch of a European Industrial Initiative on CO2 capture, transport and storage. CCS demo projects fulfilling minimum qualification criteria are now invited to join the Commission's CCS Project Network and benefit from its operations.  The Network allows early movers to: exchange information and experience from large-scale industrial demonstration of the CCS technologies; maximise their impact on further R&D and policy making; and optimise costs through shared collective actions. As the Network evolves, its EU-wide, integrating and binding role may be further reinforced and complemented by other measures supporting CCS technology development, working towards the establishment of the European Industrial Initiative.

The purpose and goals of the CCS Project Network

The Network will play a central role in the demonstration of CCS technologies in the EU. It has been established to enhance co-ordination between first movers and add value to its members through three related tasks:

  1. Exchange of information and experience, and identification of best practices, to make optimal use of the best technologies available in Europe, primarily through knowledge sharing;
  2. Provision of a common EU identity to Network members and higher visibility for individual efforts;
  3. Provision of detailed information and concrete results from the demonstration projects to help build public confidence about CCS;
  4. Promotion of CCS, EU leadership and cooperation potential to third parties/countries.

Information will be gathered through the Network to help focus on policies establishing a long-term value chain for CO2 and to facilitate Europe's decision-making and reaction speed. Furthermore, the Network should guide coherent and effective interaction of participating projects with related R&D undertaken across the EU.

 

Co-ordination

One of the tasks of the Network is the efficient co-ordination of the projects taking part. The contractor will develop a common methodology to monitor, analyse and evaluate the projects and to identify best practices, including harmonised follow-up of the storage safety issues.

Through knowledge-sharing activities, the CCS Project Network maximises the value of the demonstration projects by enabling projects to interact and accelerate CCS development, and by gathering relevant information in a timely manner for communication with stakeholders.  More information on knowledge sharing within the Network is available on the

Actions to increase public awareness

These can be tailored to the needs of the Network's demonstration projects by using sound evidence and information obtained through the execution of the demonstration projects and by addressing the public perception of safety, long term liability and the environmental impact of CCS. This task is being carried out in close interaction with European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants (ETP-ZEP) to identify synergies and avoid duplication with public communication activities already undertaken by the Platform.

International cooperation

The Network follows international developments in the CCS demonstration area, both regarding specific projects and more general programmes and policies. Potential areas for international cooperation and information exchange with industrialised countries and emerging economies will be further defined by the first Network members.

Role of the contractor

The contractor Det Norske Veritas AS (DNV) is assisting the Commission in establishing the CCS Project Network.  DNV is complementing general Commission capacities through the provision of specialised technical expertise and by organising events, as well as monitoring participating projects using a customised methodology. DNV will provide services to the Commission for the initial three years of the Network's operation; this includes building the Network's identity, both within the industrial and research communities and beyond (e.g. with policy makers and general public).

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