Page 50 - European Energy Innovation - autumn 2019 publication

50 Autumn 2019 European Energy Innovation

CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE

CpaarpttuorfinEguraonpde’ssttorrainngsitCioOn2 is a
net-zero future to

By Guloren Turan, General Manager, Advocacy and Communications, Global CCS Institute
There is a deep sense of
urgency when we talk long-term vision for a climate neutral the stock of CO2 present in the
climate change in Europe. Europe released in November 2018 atmosphere. It can play a role to
This raises many questions also shows that net-zero is possible balance emissions in hard-to-
and in Europe’s best interest. To abate sectors, such as aviation, by

and at times creates divisive rhetoric. achieve this ambitious target, the enabling negative emissions with the

But it also brings hope for a greener Commission recommended joint deployment of direct air capture or

and more sustainable future for action in seven strategic areas, one of bio-energy with CCS.

Europe. them being CCS.

CCS can play an important role to

The European Union (EU) is a leading Both the IPCC and the European scale-up the production of low-

climate actor advocating for stronger Commission recognise that carbon carbon hydrogen, a versatile energy

and more ambitious climate action. capture has an important role in the vector that can be used for green

Strong achievements have come transition to a net-zero future and home heating, power generation and

from such efforts but today, more that there is no silver bullet to tackle transportation. With this, it can open

needs to be done. The EU and its climate change. The deployment of the door to a new energy economy

Member States must continue existing solutions and technologies, that will pave the way to a net-zero

to significantly reduce emissions, further research and innovation, future.

especially in hard-to-abate sectors, and the alignment of the financial

to deliver a net-zero future by the flows with the net-zero target will The reason behind the importance

second half of the century. all support this transition to carbon of CCS lies not only in its ability to

neutrality. reduce emissions from a variety

Many questions remain: How can we of industries and sectors but also

deliver net-zero in practice? What CCS is a proven and safe technology in the potential for the technology

does net-zero mean for European in commercial operation since the to support clean growth and bring

industry and its competitiveness, its 1970s. It is an innovative and versatile value to Europe and its economy.

energy future and last but not least technology that can be deployed CCS has the potential to create new

for its citizens? to rapidly accelerate efforts to industries, protect existing jobs and

decarbonise, and it is available today. create markets for much needed

The IPCC Special Report on 1.5˚C decarbonised industrial products.

demonstrates that the world needs In Europe, about 14% of its annual

to get to net-zero emissions by the GHG emissions are from hard-to- Today, there are two operating large-

middle of the century to avoid facing abate sectors like cement, steel scale CCS facilities in Europe, both

the dangerous impacts of climate and chemicals. The demand for in Norway. They have been online

change. Alongside renewables, CO2 intensive industrial products respectively since 1996 and 2008.
energy efficiency and other important will continue with economic growth There are an additional nine large-

climate measures, carbon removal and growing urbanisation, this to scale CCS facilities in different stages

will play a key role in supporting ensure the build-out of renewable of development in the Netherlands,

these efforts. In the IPCC 1.5˚C infrastructure and roads for example. UK and Ireland. Several of these

Report, all four pathways require To tackle emissions from these projects involve capturing CO2 from
carbon removal, and three of them
industries, CCS is an important option hydrogen production. There is no

include significant amounts of carbon especially when addressing process doubt that CCS has been receiving

capture and storage (CCS). emissions. increasing attention across Europe.

The European Commission’s strategic This technology can also reduce These pioneering and innovative

www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu