IP/08/1315
Brussels, 11 September 2008
European Commission launches a call for tender to establish a Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) project network in Europe
The European Commission is preparing to establish a network of projects to demonstrate the use of CCS technology in power plants. The Commission launches a call for tender for an external service provider to assist in establishing and running the network. The deadline for submission of tenders is 6 October 2008 and the selection process should be completed by the beginning of 2009.
The selected contractor will assist the Commission in ensuring that the network allows early-movers to exchange information and experience from large-scale industrial demonstration of the use of CCS technologies and optimize costs through shared collective actions. It is foreseen that, as the network evolves, its integrating role may be complemented by other measures that support the further development of CCS technologies, building towards the establishment of a European Industrial Initiative on CCS as proposed in the Commission's Communication on the Strategic Energy Technology Plan.
The successful operation of demonstration projects is crucial for the wide-scale commercial application of CCS. In view of this the European Council endorsed in March 2007 the Commission's intention to stimulate the construction and operation of a set of CCS demonstration projects by 2015.
CCS technology shows great potential in helping reduce CO2 emissions, especially from power plants using fossil fuels such as coal or gas. The International Energy Agency estimates that the use of CCS could account for 20% of the achievable global greenhouse gas emissions reductions by 2050.
Further information on the call for tender is available here.
