North Sea nations hold keys for Europe’s transition to low-carbon economy but focused political ambition is essential, urges SCCS report

North Sea nations have the skills and storage capacity to deliver a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) industry that will transform Europe’s industry and power sectors, providing a least cost transition to a low-carbon future and a reliable electricity supply while helping to secure economic resilience, says a report released today by Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage (SCCS). The report urgently calls for specific policy support and wider political ambition within the European Union, and is published as the European Commission meets stakeholders in Edinburgh to discuss a strategic vision for energy infrastructure in the North Sea basin.

The SCCS report, A CCS future for Europe: catalysing North Sea action, derives from a meeting of European and international experts, and delivers a ten-point plan for policy makers, highlighting the need for robust business models for CO₂ transport and storage in the North Sea basin as well as targeted funding support to develop regional carbon capture “clusters” of emitters. It also calls for CCS to be fully recognised financially as a high-value climate change technology “unique in enabling the decarbonisation of thermal power generation and essential industrial processes”.

Professor Stuart Haszeldine, SCCS Director, said: “Europe faces tough targets to reduce carbon emissions by 2030. As the EU considers policy options to drive CCS deployment in line with 2030 climate and energy objectives, it is essential that this starts with CO₂ storage. Earlier this week, a review of the CCS Directive recommended a Europe-wide target of 220 million tonnes a year for CCS deployment by 2030 due to the ‘genuine and urgent need for CCS in Europe’. Our new report strongly supports this finding and shows how the North Sea region can accelerate delivery of CCS across many nations. We specify actions to deliver essential infrastructure, and pinpoint incentives to support CO₂ transport and storage as well as develop cost-effective CCS clusters in regions across Europe. Now is the time to transfer skills from a challenged oil industry to revolutionise carbon storage.”

For more information on the SCCS report and its launch today see the full SCCS press release here.