The Challenge of Pau for CCS - Chris Davies reacts to the 4th ICM Forum

It was a pleasure to attend the European Commission’s first meeting of the newly-renamed Industrial Carbon Management Forum, especially as my travel arrangements were remarkably free of the weather-induced disruption suffered by many.  

It was well organised, held in a delightful town and in an excellent venue.  The networking opportunities were great, and the hospitality lavish.  So thank you all.

Commission officials will not have been left unaware of the policy asks being voiced by carbon capture developers.  Amongst them, resolution of the chicken and egg, capture and storage, problems; financial help to create a business case for investment, and derisking of projects agreed; rewards for negative emissions; regulatory requirements for low carbon content of products like cement; equipment standards.

 

 

But Commission officials were no doubt aware of all these things before the event even began.

Commissioner Kadri Simson formally emphasised again the importance of carbon capture deployment, and highlighted a few examples of progress while suggesting that more would follow next year.

But the Energy Commissioner did not address directly the elephant in the room, which is that CCS deployment in 2024 has stalled.  At a political level the Commission has not done enough to impress upon EU Member States the importance of developing and implementing industrial carbon management policies.

Of course, we can point to the positive developments in Denmark and the Netherlands, to strategies being agreed in France and Germany, and to positive developments in Italy, Greece, Sweden and elsewhere.  But the National Energy and Climate Plans tell their own story and it is not one that matches the aspirations of the ICM Strategy published last February.

To capture 280 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2040 we need a major (say, c400,000 tonnes) capture plant to commence construction every 8 days or so.  We need concrete foundations laid in the ground and steelwork erected, pipelines and ships built, and storage sites declared open for business.  And it’s not happening, or not remotely on the scale that is needed.

While Pau was a pleasure to attend I doubt if the event, with all its cost, helped move the political dial one iota in favour of CCS deployment.  

It’s the policymakers that matter, and they were almost entirely absent from Pau. If the ICM Forum is to meet again thought needs to be given as to how national and European decision-makers can be more involved.

And the message to everyone who attended in person or online is that everyone seeking to secure CCS deployment needs to up their political game.  Every industry needs to be taking steps to get the message of their asks and needs to policymakers.  

In too many countries, industry has yet to come together and set up a national advocacy group for CCS.  This should be a priority.  CCS Europe may be able to offer some suggestions and guidance, so feel free to contact us.

We have a new Commission being formed.  We need to impress upon the new Commissioners that they must provide leadership if CCS is to be kickstarted into happening across Europe.  We are promised an Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act.  If ever a technology needed accelerating it is carbon capture!