Brussels, 18 September 2024 --
Advocacy body Carbon Capture and Storage Europe (CCS Europe) has warmly welcomed the emphasis given to industrial decarbonisation in mission letters sent by President von der Leyen to commissioners-elect.
“The needs of hard-to-abate industries have been given greater recognition than ever before, and carbon capture is acknowledged as having a major role to play,” commented Chris Davies, director of CCS Europe.
But the organisation said it must be made clear which DG would take the lead in promoting the technology.
The mission letters indicate that Teresa Ribera will have a lead role in preparing the Clean Industrial Deal that will affect CCS financing. Stéphane Séjourné will develop the Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act. Wopke Hoekstra is responsible for addressing key issues affecting carbon capture deployment, yet Dan Jorgensen has to make proposals to increase the uptake of CCUS.
Davies said: “In the absence of clarity and leadership we risk competition and confusion that will not best serve either the needs of industry or the climate.”
To overcome the confusion, CCS Europe calls for the European Commission to appoint a full-time CCS Envoy.