Europe claims leadership on CCS science

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) aims to take emissions from energy generation and pump them back into the geological void left by the extraction of oil and gas, effectively locking the greenhouse gas underground so that it does not impact on the atmosphere.

The event, hosted by European scientific network CO2GeoNet, showcased the latest research into the viability of CCS as a method to reduce carbon emissions on a large scale.

As well as addressing the general issues on technological progress the gathering looked at what has been learnt about possible leakage and how far CCS can help with the recovery of hard-to-reach oil and natural gas.

Dr Nick Riley, head of science policy, Europe at the British Geological Survey & President of CO2GeoNet said: “Europe is leading the world in setting up a regional regulatory framework that will ensure CO2 capture and storage is conducted safely and eligible under the European Emissions Trading Scheme”.

By bringing together research from a number of different disciplines, CO2GeoNet believes it has contributed to a comprehensive understanding of CO2 storage which will enable policymakers to progress towards CCS implementation.

Research and development carried out by CO2GeoNet scientists provides the scientific basis to the application of the new European Directive on the Geological Storage of CO2.

Isabelle Czernichowski-Lauriol, project manager at Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres, France & network manager of CO2GeoNet said: “The most successful result of this EC-founded Network of Excellence is the transformation of CO2GeoNet into a legal entity, a scientific association under French law.

“CO2GeoNet has become the European scientific authority on the geological storage of CO2, needed to accelerate the deployment of and build confidence in the full range of CO2 storage technologies”.

David Gibbs