Category Archives: News

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) can enable early and cost-efficient hydrogen at scale. Low-carbon hydrogen produced from reformed natural gas with CCS can fulfil early hydrogen demand, giving more time to plan and build the infrastructure required to scale up renewable hydrogen.

ZEP responded to the stakeholder consultation on Transition pathways for ecosystems – Energy-intensive industries, as part of the New Industrial Strategy published in May 2021. This will feed into the European Commission’s work to develop ‘sector-specific transition pathways’ by Q2 2022 for EU decarbonisation.

The Zero Emissions Platform (ZEP) would like to congratulate the European Commission on the first edition of the CCUS Forum. This initiative comes at a critical moment for Europe’s transition to net zero emissions by 2050. With the legally-binding target of climate neutrality by 2050 and an increased emissions reduction target for 2030, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technologies must be part of the solution for European decarbonisation.

On 1 November, ZEP co-organised an EU side event at COP26. The focus of the event was on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), both critical on the path to climate neutrality.

On 26 October, ZEP co-hosted an EU Sustainable Energy Day event with Fortum Oslo Värme, Bellona, and the City of Oslo as part of EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2021.

The ZEP Network Technology co-chairs and further experts from the research constituency were engaged in preparing a fact-based, academic paper on low-carbon hydrogen. The ZEP paper provides a realistic picture of blue hydrogen and its role for Europe to reach climate-neutrality.

ZEP gave input to the Roadmap on restoring sustainable carbon cycles. As stated in the European Climate Law, carbon dioxide removals, verified by a robust and thorough carbon accounting methodology, will be a key tool to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050 and 55% reduction by 2030.

ZEP gave input to the stakeholders’ consultation on the Low-Carbon Industrial Technologies Prospect Report, stressing the role of CCS, CCU, carbon dioxide removals and hydrogen. Following the update of the New Industrial Strategy in May 2021, the Commission will develop ‘sector-specific transition pathways’ by Q2 2022 for the EU decarbonisation. ZEP’s response will feed into the first ERA Industrial Technology Roadmap, which addresses low-carbon industrial technologies for energy-intensive industries, and give input to the Commission’s transition pathways.

On 22 September, the Zero Emissions Platform Conference 2021 took place online, coordinated with the ZEP 68th Advisory Council meeting and as a ‘grant farewell’ for ZEP 2018-2021. The conference programme saw discussions reflect on CCS and CCU developments over the past three years, as well as highlight the main challenges going forward.

The large-scale deployment of cross-border CO2 transport and storage infrastructure is crucial for the EU to reach its 2050 climate target. To this end, all modes of CO2 transport – pipeline, ship, barge, truck, train – and CO2 storage should be included in the revised TEN-E regulation, writes Dr Graeme Sweeney.