News Release
US Energy Secretary Abraham & EU Transport &
Energy Commissioner de Palacio
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Loyola de Palacio |
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No.
41/03
June 25, 2003
EU JOINS FORCES WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS ON
RESEARCH TO “CLEAN UP” FOSSIL FUELS
The European Commission, represented by
Loyola de Palacio, Vice President in charge of
Energy and Transport, has signed an
international charter on CO2 capture and storage (CO2/carbon
sequestration). This will create the “Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum” with
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Italy, India, Japan, Mexico, Norway, the
People's Republic of China, Russia, the United Kingdom and the US. The Forum aims
to stimulate research into carbon
sequestration technologies, to “clean up” fossil fuels by capturing CO2
at source and storing it for thousands of years deep underground. This will help
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In
Washington today for the
EU-US summit, Vice President De Palacio said:
“We are committed to meeting the Kyoto
Protocol targets, through the enhanced use of renewable energy sources, and more
efficient use of energy. All these efforts are on track through brand new legislation
adopted in the last few years. Carbon sequestration complements these efforts.
The agreement signed today offers opportunities for deeper cuts in emissions well
beyond the Kyoto 2012 horizon, as a further contribution in the crucial fight
against climate change.”
Speaking from Brussels,
European Research
Commissioner
Philippe Busquin stressed that EU research leads in this field:
“During the past ten years we have funded research projects worth over EUR 30
million. We will now intensify our efforts by supporting ambitious research projects,
totalling some EUR 200 million, to address scientific, technological and other
barriers to carbon sequestration. The main goal is to check if carbon sequestration
in geological formations is environmentally sound and cost effective. This research
could also have an important impact in the field of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies,
facilitating the clean production of hydrogen from fossil fuels. We look forward
to working with other international partners to develop this promising technology.”
Why carbon sequestration?
The
concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is increasing because of emissions
from fossil fuel combustion boosting the natural greenhouse effect, leading to
climate change.
Power generation, transport, industry and domestic uses are contributing to this
increase. The EU committed itself in the
Kyoto Protocol to reducing its Green House Gases (GHG) emissions by 8% in
the 2008-2012 period compared to 1990 levels.
However, in order to stabilize GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at acceptable
levels, much deeper cuts in emissions (by more than 50% globally over the next
50 years) will be necessary. CO2 sequestration could help to meet this
goal by capturing CO2 at source and storing it in geological formations.
Other options to limit CO2 emissions, in the energy and transport sectors,
include reducing energy consumption, increasing energy efficiency, using low-carbon
fuels and increasing the use of energy sources with low to zero CO2
emissions, such as renewables. In addition, it is necessary to enhance the carbon
sink capacity of the biosphere (e.g., forests).
Industrial applications
Coal
use for power generation is forecast to increase significantly in the coming decades.
Carbon sequestration could be incorporated in power plants that are using coal
or natural gas. Capture and storage technologies are best applied in connection
with large-scale energy conversion plants such as coal power plants and oil refineries.
Carbon sequestration offers the possibility for new industrial applications such
as the production of hydrogen, together with electricity, from fossil fuels. The
CO2 produced as a by-product could be captured and stored underground.
The
European market for carbon sequestration could be large enough for a strong domestic
industry sector. But carbon sequestration is not yet economically competitive.
It is at the moment more expensive compared to other available options to reduce
CO2 emissions in the production of electricity. Nevertheless, with
the need for more extensive CO2 emission cuts in the future, carbon
sequestration technology could become economically attractive.
How does carbon sequestration work?
For
CO2 storage to be an effective way of reducing the risk of climate
change, carbon must be stored for thousands of years. Storage must have low environmental
impact, acceptable cost and conform to national and international laws. The main
options for storing CO2 underground are in depleted oil and gas reservoirs,
deep saline reservoirs and unminable coal seams. Already today CO2
is injected underground in many Enhanced Oil Recovery projects.
Underground storage of natural gas, an analogous technique, is widely practiced
and does not pose safety concerns. However, as CO2 is an asphyxiant
and heavier than air, the highest possible safety standards have to be implemented,
so as to avoid slow leakage or sudden large-scale release resulting from seismic
activity. Underground water sources must also be protected.
For
further information please visit:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/energy/nn/nn_rt_co1_en.html
Photos of the signature of the Charter for a “Carbon Capture and Storage Technology
Initiative'”at the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum are available on the
following web site:
http://europe.eu.int/comm/mediatheque/photo/new_en.html.
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Press Contacts:
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Wilfried Schneider
202-862-9523
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Maeve O'Beirne
202-862-9549
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