Strategic Overview
Overview
Experts agree that CO₂ capture and storage technology (CCS), together with improved energy conversion efficiency, is a near-term solution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel power generation on a massive scale. Its immediate deployment is vital if we are to avoid the catastrophic consequences of climate change we are facing today.
Despite the availability of most technology components, CCS is still not deployed for two key reasons:
- The costs and risks still outweigh the commercial benefits
- The regulatory framework for CO₂ storage is not sufficiently defined
Formation of the Technology Platform
Following the priority given to “zero emission power generation” in the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), industrial stakeholders and the research community united to form the European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants (ZEP). Its purpose is to identify and remove the barriers to creating highly efficient power plants with zero emissions, drastically reducing the environmental impact of fossil fuel use, particularly coal.
In autumn 2005:
- The Advisory Council and Coordination Group were established
- Working Groups and the Mirror Group began operation
The Technology Platform was officially launched in December 2005, and a Vision Paper was published in May 2006.
Key Strategic Documents
In August 2006, the Technology Platform published two major documents:
- Strategic Deployment Document (SDD) – outlining how to accelerate market deployment
- Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) – describing a collaborative programme for technology development aimed at reducing costs and risks
This Strategic Overview summarises both documents and highlights the key actions required to realise the central Vision:
Vision
To enable European fossil fuel power plants to have zero CO₂ emissions by 2020.