Page 23 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2017 publication

Winter 2017 European Energy Innovation 23
proposed by the Port of Rotterdam
Authority, the Teesside CO2 Hub in
the UK in collaboration with the Nuon/
Vattenfall Magnum Project in the
Netherlands, and the Pale Blue Dot
CO2 Sapling Transport Infrastructure
Project which features partners from
the UK, Norway and the Netherlands.
All of these projects could potentially
be funded under the Connecting
Europe Facility fund and if all four went
ahead, they would create important
strategic CO2 hubs which could drive
the development of sustainable
economic zones. Such zones represent
the lowest-cost route to sustainable
regional growth across Europe whilst
safeguarding and boosting the global
competitiveness of vital European
industries through the creation of low-
carbon products.
Looking forward, a conference is due
to take place towards the end of this
year on the European Strategic Energy
Technology Plan (SET-Plan). This plan
highlights the areas where the EU
needs to strengthen cooperation
to bring new, efficient and cost-
competitive low-carbon technologies
to the market faster. As part of the
SET-Plan, a number of Member States
are collaborating on a dedicated
Implementation Plan for CCS and
Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU),
which sets out ten key targets for
successful CCS deployment.
History has shown us that attempting
to implement CCS on a country by
country basis presents significant
challenges. It is now time to shift
the focus and concentrate on those
countries that already posses the
key characteristics necessary for
CCS deployment – such as available
CO2 storage, good concentration
of industrial emitters and a level of
understanding of the CCS policies
and incentive mechanisms that are
required. But more importantly,
successful CCS deployment
will require increased levels of
collaboration – both between
countries and between Government
and industry. Fortunately, there are
already a number of areas that lend
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
CARBON CAPTURE & STORAGE
themselves well to such collaboration; towards the latter half of this century,
in particular countries bordering the particular to enable flexibility in sectors
North Sea. In fact these countries are such as aviation, where emissions
already cooperating to develop a reductions will be challenging.
joint offshore grid and there is a good
chance that CCS will be included 2017 has seen a number of positive
in these efforts in the future. The steps for CCS in Europe, and there is a
Baltic region also has great potential definite sense of excitement. It is now
for collaboration regarding the vital that the European Commission
development of CO2 infrastructure. builds on this momentum and
implements a policy framework that
Whilst CCS will undoubtedly need incentivises the capture and storage
to play an important role in reducing of CO2, facilitating an environment
emissions from energy intensive in which follow-on projects and
industries, heating and power, it is investments can develop. The key
important to remember that CCS, in to delivering a successful European
combination with bioenergy (bio- CCS industry lies in the development
CCS or BECCS), also has the ability to of CO2 transport and storage
deliver negative emissions. To meet infrastructure which can be shared by a
the Paris Agreement, the IEA has large number of industries and a range
estimated that CCS will need to deliver of countries. We urgently need to put
32% of the extra effort to move from a in place the investment and financing
2°C scenario to well below 2°C and a models to realise this infrastructure
substantial proportion of this effort will today and ensure the roll-out of CCS
need to be met by BECCS. Negative in Europe from 2025. The sustainable
emissions technologies are likely future of Europe’s industries, regions
to become increasingly important and climate depends on it. l
Dr. Graeme Sweeney, Chairman of the Advisory Council of the European
The European Zero Emissions Technology & Innovation Platform (ZEP)
Dr Graeme Sweeney is a leading authority on energy, fuels and climate
change, drawing on extensive international experience across all aspects of
the oil, gas and renewable industries.
Dr Sweeney is currently Chairman of the Advisory Council of the European
Zero Emissions Technology & Innovation Platform (ZEP). ZEP's unique coalition
of stakeholders (petroleum companies, equipment suppliers, scientists,
academics and environmental NGOs) have been instrumental in the development
of the EU Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Demonstration programme,
providing expert advice to the European Commission on all technical,
technology, policy, commercial and other related issues.
Dr Sweeney is also Chair of the energy efficiency start up The Chopping
Company Ltd, a Chairman of the Board of the Climate Change Advisory Board
of the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, Chair of The Scottish CCS
Advisory Board, Chair of The UK Energy Research Centre Advisory Board, co-
chair of the European Union's CCS Project Network Advisory Forum, a Member
of the European Industrial Initiative on CCS under The EU Strategic Energy
Technology Plan, and a founding member of the Global Carbon Capture and
Storage Institute.
Dr Sweeney currently acts as advisor to the Scottish Government in his position
as Chair of the Industrial Leadership Group on Thermal Power and CCS and
Member of Scottish First Minister's Energy Advisory Board.
Until 2012, Dr Sweeney was the Executive Vice President CO2 at Royal Dutch
Shell and served on the University of California Davis Institute of Transportation
Studies Advisory Board.