GLOBE Europe member organises discussion on CCS in Dutch national Parliament
Monday, 27 April 2009 15:35 | 
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GLOBE Europe Focal Point in the Dutch Second Chamber Boris van der Ham organised a meeting in the Dutch national Parliament on 17 April on CCS (carbon capture and storage), inviting GLOBE EU member Chris Davies as a guest speaker. Mr Davies was the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the CCS directive, which was one of the key pieces of legislation in the recently adopted energy and climate change package.
During the meeting Mr Davies talked about the challenges and opportunities facing CCS technology, recognising that there are still several obstacles to be overcome, if it is to become a viable and attractive technique in the fight to reduce our carbon footprint.
Convinced that the technology can work, Davies advocated four mechanisms for accelerating work in the area: greater input of money, further development of the cap and trade system, regulation via the Emission Performance Standard and public acceptance.
He noted that the biggest issue still facing the technology is financing, with the first mover problem still a major obstacle. This is the idea that coal-powered plants currently have little incentive to use CCS since its cost is still very high, and the price of carbon remains relatively low. According to Davies, CCS will only become attractive to such plants, once the price of CO2 exceeds €40 per tonne.
Public confidence concerns also remain he went on to say, with many still questioning whether CCS can be stored safely underground and others questioning whether the money might not be better invested into more sustainable alternatives.
A discussion ensued, during which the national Parliamentarians who were present, were able to ask Davies questions.
The Netherlands is one of the EU countries which has most embraced the prospect of CCS, and the discussion provided national Parliamentarians with the opportunity to discuss the technology with someone right at the heart of the policy process at the EU level. The meeting was held in the Dutch Second Chamber and was attended by various members of the Parliament.
During the meeting Mr Davies talked about the challenges and opportunities facing CCS technology, recognising that there are still several obstacles to be overcome, if it is to become a viable and attractive technique in the fight to reduce our carbon footprint.
Convinced that the technology can work, Davies advocated four mechanisms for accelerating work in the area: greater input of money, further development of the cap and trade system, regulation via the Emission Performance Standard and public acceptance.
He noted that the biggest issue still facing the technology is financing, with the first mover problem still a major obstacle. This is the idea that coal-powered plants currently have little incentive to use CCS since its cost is still very high, and the price of carbon remains relatively low. According to Davies, CCS will only become attractive to such plants, once the price of CO2 exceeds €40 per tonne.
Public confidence concerns also remain he went on to say, with many still questioning whether CCS can be stored safely underground and others questioning whether the money might not be better invested into more sustainable alternatives.
A discussion ensued, during which the national Parliamentarians who were present, were able to ask Davies questions.
The Netherlands is one of the EU countries which has most embraced the prospect of CCS, and the discussion provided national Parliamentarians with the opportunity to discuss the technology with someone right at the heart of the policy process at the EU level. The meeting was held in the Dutch Second Chamber and was attended by various members of the Parliament.
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