ZEP response to the adopted act: Proposal for a Regulation on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure and repealing Regulation

ZEP responded to the consultation on the revised TEN-E Regulation, highlighting the following key messages:

• As confirmed by the revision, carbon dioxide networks must remain a priority area in the Regulation (EU) No. 347/2013 on guidelines for trans-European energy infrastructure (TEN-E Regulation).
• For many planned and soon-to-be operational CCS and CCU projects in Europe, the failure to recognise all modalities of CO2 transport other than pipeline leaves many open questions and risks. Upcoming CCS and CCU projects, which rely on CO2 transport by ship, will be jeopardised.
• The exclusion of CO2 storage is problematic, as CO2 storage is an essential component of CCS projects and the real enabler for mitigation. For energy-intensive industries, European CO2 transport and storage infrastructure will enable CO2 emitters in industrial hubs and power plants to have access to storage sites, thus achieving cost-efficient decarbonisation whilst maintaining industrial activity and preserving existing jobs.
• Timely development of this infrastructure is also critical to kick-start a clean hydrogen economy for the EU, where early, large-scale volumes of low-carbon hydrogen are produced and delivered for industrial and residential use.