About the author Anja Chalmin has been active in supporting environmentally friendly, climate-friendly and low-residue agriculture in various positions for more than 20 years. Since 2011, she has also been focusing on climate geoengineering technology, projects, research and experimentation. Anja holds a Diploma in Agricultural Engineering (Horticulture, sub-/tropical Horticulture) from the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück and an MSc Agroforestry from Bangor University.
Contents Introduction 5
1 The European Green Deal mentions CCS and CCU 7 as possible measures to implement the declared climate targets
- The European Union has not met its own targets 8
for testing CCS – yet CCS is regarded
as a “climate and resource frontrunner”
under the European Green Deal - The European Hydrogen Strategy relies on blue 11
hydrogen in the short and medium term – and thus
on an immature technology with high GHG emissions - EU funding increasingly plays a role in financing 13
geoengineering projects - The role of geoengineering in nationally elaborated 16
climate plans gaps widely - The number of geoengineering actors in the EU 18
is increasing - Geoengineering is not compatible with the goals 19
of the European Green Deal – and may even make it
more difficult to achieve them
List of sources 21
Annexes 25
Annex 1 (chapter 4, figure 2): Number and contents 25
of EU-funded geoengineering projects
Annex 2 (chapter 4, figure 3): EU funding for GE projects 26
in FP’s 5 to 8
Annex 3 (chapter 5): The role of geoengineering in national 27
strategic plans
Annex 4 (chapter 6): European lobby groups working 33
on the issue of geoengineering
Geoengineering in the European Union 4/39
Glossary
BASRECCS Baltic Sea Region network for CCS
BECCS Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage
CCS Carbon Capture and Storage
CCU Carbon Capture and Utilisation
CCUS Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage
CO2
Carbon dioxide
DAC Direct Air Capture
DKK Danish krone
EEA European Environmental Agency
EEPR European Energy Programme for Recovery
EGD European Green Deal
EOR Enhanced Oil Recovery
ETS Emission Trading System
EU European Union
FP Framework Programs
GE Geoengineering
GHG Greenhouse Gas(es)
HRK Croatian kuna
NDCs Nationally Determined Contributions
NECPs National Energy and Climate Plans
NER300 New Entrants’ Reserve programme, funded from the sale
of 300 million ETS allowances
NRRPs National Recovery and Resilience Plans
SRM Solar Radiation Management
Geoengineering in the European Union 5/39
Introduction
The notion of geoengineering includes a wide array of technologies that seek to intervene
in and alter earth systems on a large scale – a “technofix” to climate change. Most geoengineering tech falls into two categories. The most contentious is solar radiation management (SRM), which aims to reflect more sunlight back into space to cool the planet by
creating brighter and more reflective clouds or by injecting sun-dimming aerosols into the
stratosphere to mimic a huge volcanic eruption. The other major category of geoengineering – large-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from exhaust fumes or the atmosphere
– is more prominent in the debate. It includes ideas like carbon capture from exhaust and
underground storage (CCS) as well as carbon use (CCU), but also CDR in marine environments, such as artificial upwelling. CCS and CCU are an integral component of many
geoengineering schemes and many climate models currently envision them on large-scale.
This paper takes a comprehensive approach and considers all geoengineering approaches
that have been studied and are policy relevant in the EU context.
There are many reasons to be wary of these technologies. They do not address the underlying causes of climate change themselves, anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, thereby
delaying the implementation of a transition away from fossil fuels. As they are very pricy,
they redirect funding and investments away from real climate solutions. Some geoengineering proposals require vast amounts of energy, nullifying any potential benefit. There are
also geopolitical and social concerns: technologies could have transboundary impacts or be
weaponized, e.g., SRM, or use up vast amounts of land, e.g., BECCS. Indigenous peoples
have a particular vulnerability, for example due to potential displacements or changes in
agricultural opportunities. Lastly, they are largely unproven und their actual impact on the
climate system is difficult – for some approaches: impossible – to test without potentially
irreversible consequences.
Geoengineering approaches figure prominently in net zero plans and pledges, of both governments and corporations, in particular. This contributes to an environment where urgent
choices about decarbonization of industry, transport, and power production are postponed.
To be relevant to ‘net zero‘, the geoengineering technologies must be deployed at very large
scale. Failure of these technologies would lock in several degrees of warming, with a catastrophic impact.
In the European context, the debate on “net zero” has only started. While – after tough
negotiations – the EU institutions agreed on an Climate Law to enshrine the overarching
objective of the European Green Deal, climate neutrality by 20501
, and even net negative
emissions thereafter into law, the question how much emission reductions could be achieved
via technologies and not natural sinks remains open.2
Many of the relevant actors in this
field (the EU institutions Commission, neighboring states with regulatory links to the EU,
companies, NGOs) have not yet developed a substantial and stable position on the issue.
1 It is important to recall that the objective to become climate neutral only in 2050 and to reduce
emissions by net. 55 % by 2030 is per se against the principle of common bur differentiated
responsibilities and therefore not compatible with the Paris Agreement target of limiting global
average temperature rise to 1.5°C.
2 For the 2030 target priority is given to natural sinks, in large parts due to purely physical factors
as technological solutions cannot contribute significantly in the short term.
Geoengineering in the European Union 6/39
The Climate Law itself uses cautious language and sees responsibility with Member States
to decide whether they want to rely on such technologies. CCS and CCU are especially
relevant in the debate around so-called “low-carbon gases” because they play a role in
important policy files, such as the Hydrogen Strategy and the Taxonomy for Sustainable
Finance. In 2022, the European Commission will make a legislative proposal on carbon
removal certification.
Against this background, the policy brief on hand provides an overview and critical evidence-based analysis of both the role of the EU in financing geo-engineering projects and
the role of geo-engineering in relevant EU policies under the umbrella of the European
Green Deal. It ought to feed into the debate of how the EU can reach the long-term objective of carbon neutrality by 2050. It seeks to answer the following questions: Where does
the EU stand in the debate on geo-engineering? Are there striking differences among the
member states? Which role do the above technologies play in the European Green Deal and
the overarching goal to become climate neutral by 2050 and achieve net negative emissions
thereafter? In which policy files is the bet on CDR especially relevant? Which projects on
GE has the EU funded? And which actors have had an influence in that debate? As such, it
aims to inform decision-makers, civil society actors and journalists about players and their
positions in the area, financial expenses and opportunity costs of such projects, and the
overall relevance of geo-engineering projects in climate policy making.
The report is structured around the following themes: The first three chapters examine the
role of geoengineering (GE) in relevant EU policies, focusing primarily on GE technologies
mentioned under the umbrella of the European Green Deal in the context of the transition
to climate neutrality. The interactive geoengineering map, generated by the Heinrich Böll
Foundation and ETC Group, allows a detailed insight into GE activities in the European
context. Based on the available information in the map, the fourth chapter analyses the
role of the European Union (EU) in financing GE projects. The fifth chapter provides an
overview of the EU member states’ approach to GE by summarising the role of GE technologies in the national strategic plans as well as the member states’ experiences with
GE technologies to date. The sixth chapter provides insights into the geoengineering lobby
and the extent to which the EU has helped shape the existing lobby structures. The final
chapter questions whether geoengineering is a suitable instrument for implementing the
goals of the European Green Deal.
Climate policy context
Climate has become a top policy priority for the institutions of the European Union. The
European Parliament declared a climate emergency in November 2019 and one month
later, the European Commission under President von der Leyen communicated on its
flagship project: the European Green Deal. Its main objectives are economic growth
decoupled from resource use, a zero-pollution environment, halting biodiversity loss and
– above all – no net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. The EU’s first Climate Law,
passed in June 2021, enshrined the goal of a climate-neutrality for the EU as whole
by 2050 into law. After 2050, the EU aims for negative emissions – but how the EU
will remove more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than it emits is still unclear.
The Climate Law also raised the EU emissions reduction target from 40% to at least
55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The 2030 target is a net target, as natural
Geoengineering in the European Union 7/39
CO2
sinks, such as forests, peatlands or soils, are allowed to contribute to meeting the
climate target. However, natural CO2
sinks are capped at 225 million tonnes of CO2
.
In addition to natural sinks, policy makers also consider technical solutions to achieve
future targets, for example carbon capture and storage. The European Commission will
propose an action plan to promote carbon removals from forests, agricultural practices
or engineered mechanisms and develop a regulatory framework for the certification of
such carbon removals by late 2022. - The European Green Deal mentions
CCS and CCU as possible measures to
implement the declared climate targets
Among the goals of the European Green Deal is that the EU should be climate neutral
by 2050. Proposed for implementation are also measures that do not combat the
causes of climate change but seek to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere.
In the European Green Deal, published in late 2019, the European Commission points to
climate and environmental problems – such as the rise in atmospheric temperature, the
loss of species and the pollution of oceans and forests – and sets the goals to become climate neutral by 2050. Besides, the European Green Deal “aims to protect, conserve and
enhance the EU’s natural capital, and protect the health and well-being of citizens from
environment-related risks and impacts”. In order to achieve the climate-related goals, various instruments are to be used, including “carbon pricing”, “removing subsidies for fossil
fuels”, and “the phasing out of fossil fuels, in particular those that are most polluting”. In
section 2.1.2 on “supplying clean, affordable and secure energy”, as one of a number of
measures, the European Green Deal recommends the introduction and promotion of carbon
capture, storage and utilization. The EC’s staff working document “Impact Assessment –
Stepping up Europe’s 2030 climate ambition” defines carbon capture and storage (CCS)
as “a set of technologies aimed at capturing, transporting, and storing CO2
emitted from
power plants and industrial facilities” and elaborates that “the goal of CCS is to prevent CO2
from reaching the atmosphere, by storing it in suitable underground geological
formations”. Carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) is defined as a “process of capturing
carbon dioxide (CO2
) to be recycled for further usage”. The European Green Deal section 2.1.3 on “mobilising industry for a clean and circular economy” lists CCS and CCU
among the “climate and resource frontrunners” that are expected “to develop the first
commercial applications of breakthrough technologies in key industrial sectors by 2030”,
such as carbon-free steel making.
CCS as a mean to achieve climate targets has already been addressed in previous communications of the European Commission. The 2018 communication “A Clean Planet for
all” identified CCS as one of four main pathways to a sustainable energy system in 2050
Geoengineering in the European Union 8/39
and describes CCS as a mean to reduce emissions. Back in 2013, the communication on
the Future of Carbon Capture and Storage in Europe outlined that “fossil fuels are likely
to continue to be used in Europe’s power generation as well as in industrial processes for
decades to come” as well as a scenario for the deployment of CCS – “with 7% to 32% of
power generation using CCS by 2050 […], if commercialized”.
CCS and CCU are both so-called geoengineering technologies that are an integral component
of many geoengineering schemes. The scale at which they are currently envisioned in many of
the climate models would make them geoengineering as such. The term geoengineering (GE)
refers to deliberate, usually large-scale, interventions in the Earth’ climate system with
the aim of reducing or masking the effects of climate change. Rather than addressing
the underlying causes auf climate change, anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, the
proposed GE technologies primarily attempt to reduce the concentration of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere, or to reflect more sunlight back to space. - The European Union has not met its
own targets for testing CCS – yet
CCS is regarded as a “climate and
resource frontrunner” under the
European Green Deal
The European Council committed to testing the feasibility and economic viability of
CCS. Up to twelve large-scale demonstration projects were to be conducted under
two different funding programmes. In the end, only seven of these projects were
planned, but none was implemented. Nevertheless, the European Union and the
European Green Deal continue to back CCS – even though the self-imposed targets
for testing CCS have not been achieved.
In 2007, the European Council committed to support up to twelve large-scale demonstration
CCS projects by 2015. For implementation, support for CCS was made possible through
two financing instruments – the European Energy Programme for Recovery (EEPR) and
the European NER300 funding programme.
In 2013, six years later, a communication on the Future of Carbon Capture and Storage in
Europe from the European Commission stated that
— “the need for large scale demonstration and deployment of CCS, in view of its commercialisation, has not receded and has only become more urgent”;
Geoengineering in the European Union 9/39
— “investment in CCS demonstration is required to test whether the subsequent deployment and construction of CO2 infrastructure is feasible. The first step on this path is
therefore to ensure a successful commercial-scale demonstration of CCS in Europe
that would confirm CCS’s technical and economic viability as a cost-effective measure
to mitigate GHG in the power and industrial sector.”
A 2018 European Special Report, produced by the European Court of Auditors, explains
that the two programs introduced to support the twelve large-scale demonstration CCS projects have not succeeded in deploying the projects. The following map provides an overview
of the planned projects and the respective reasons for failure:
Figure 1: The European Council committed to support up to 12 large-scale demonstration
projects to test CCS. In the end, seven projects were planned, but none of the projects
were implemented.
Compostilla project:
EEPR funded,
scale-up cancelled
for financial reasons
ROAD project:
EEPR funded,
cancelled for
financial reasons
White Rose
project: NER300
funded, cancelled
due to high costs
Vattenfall Jänschwalde
project: EEPR funded,
abandoned due to
public opposition
Belchatow project: EEPR
funded, cancelled due to lack of
funding, technical risks, public
opposition, and legal issues
Porto Tolle project: EEPR funded,
abandoned for financial reasons and
annulment of the environmental permit
Don Valley project:
EEPR funded,
abandoned for
financial reasons
Geoengineering in the European Union 10/39
The EEPR programme was launched in 2009 and aimed to support nine offshore wind
projects with €565 million as well as six CCS projects with €1 billion. Regarding the
CCS projects, the EEPR had the target of making CCS technology commercially viable by
the end of the decade. Although a total of €424 million was spent on the CCS projects, with
an additional €150 million in national funding in the case of the ROAD project, this target was missed. In spite of this high cost to the taxpayer, none of the EEPR CCS projects
reached commercial status, but all were abandoned.
The NER300 funding programme aimed “to successfully demonstrate environmentally safe
carbon capture and storage (CCS)” and to demonstrate “a wide range of CCS technologies”. During the first call, in 2012, none of the CCS projects were considered for funding,
because they “were not confirmed by the Member States concerned”. During the second call,
in 2014, only one CCS proposal was submitted, but cancelled in 2015. The unspent funds
will be reinvested in the NER300 successor programme, the Innovation Fund. The funding
instrument aims to invest up to €10 billion to advance “breakthrough technologies for
renewable energy, energy-intensive industries, energy storage, and carbon capture, use and
storage”. The Innovation Fund launched its first call for large-scale projects in July 2020,
with the second call expected in October 2021. The proportion of large-scale projects related to geoengineering cannot yet be viewed – 66 applications were submitted in June 2021
and grants will be awarded at the end of 2021.
Although the targets to test the feasibility and economic viability of CCS have not been met,
the EU continues to rely on CCS, “because a significant amount of power generation and
industry will continue to rely on fossil fuels also in the future”. A Commission report, issued
in 2020, summarized: “although the financial support of EEPR was not sufficient to prompt
companies to realise commercial-scale CCS demonstration projects, the Commission still
considers CCS important for decarbonisation”. It remains inexplicable how a technology
that has yet to be tested and assessed for feasibility and viability can turn into a “climate and
resource frontrunners” and a “breakthrough technology” in the European Green Deal.
Geoengineering in the European Union 11/39 - The European Hydrogen Strategy relies
on blue hydrogen in the short and
medium term – and thus on an immature
technology with high GHG emissions
The European Hydrogen Strategy intends to introduce blue hydrogen – produced
from fossil fuels and combined with CCS – as a large-scale interim solution. If this
proposal is implemented, the combustion of fossil fuels will not only be prolonged, but
also enlarged. Moreover, with CCS, the EU is relying on a technology that, despite
long development cycles and extensive public funding, is still in its infancy, incurs
high costs, and cannot guarantee safe storage of captured CO2
.
The European Hydrogen Strategy calls for hydrogen to play a key role in achieving a climate-neutral Europe. Currently, hydrogen makes up only a small share of the EU’s energy
mix – which is predominantly produced from fossil fuels and generates large amounts
of CO2
. The EU aims to expand renewable hydrogen (“green hydrogen”), produced with
renewable energies such as wind or solar energy, on a large scale. In the short and medium term, however, forms of so-called “low-carbon hydrogen” are also to be used, i.e.,
hydrogen produced with fossil energy is to be combined with CCS (“blue hydrogen”). The
Commission justifies this transitional phase, which allows the continued use of fossil energy
sources for hydrogen production, as follows: “an incentivising, supportive policy framework
needs to enable renewable and, in a transitional period, low-carbon hydrogen to contribute
to decarbonisation at the lowest possible cost”.
The Hydrogen Strategy will be pursued in three phases. In the first phase, from 2020 – 2024,
a regulatory framework for a hydrogen market will be created, including “bridging the cost
gap between conventional solutions and renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and through
appropriate State aid rules”. In the second phase, from 2025 – 2030, projects are to be financed, e.g., “retrofitting of existing fossil-based hydrogen production with carbon capture”.
In the third phase, from 2020-2030, approximatively €11 billion will be invested “in retrofitting half of the existing [hydrogen] plants with carbon capture and storage”. The Hydrogen
Strategy concludes by stating that “low-carbon hydrogen can contribute to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions ahead of 2030”. On what grounds this statement was made, since the intended CCS tests did not take place, is uncertain. The European Environmental Agency (EEA)
stated in 2017 that CCS solutions “are expected to contribute to overall climate efforts
but it is unclear whether or not they can be implemented at the scale needed and be viable
and truly sustainable in the long term”. In 2020, the EEA adds that “currently, there are
around 80 large scale CCS projects at various stages of development around the world but
only a few are operational. There are as yet no large-scale CCS plants in operation which
cover all three elements of the CCS chain – the capture, transport and storage of CO2
.” As
already observed in the previous chapter, the EU is thus relying on a technology that has
not yet been proven. Nevertheless, blue hydrogen is scheduled for short- and medium-term
Geoengineering in the European Union 12/39
use. There are several reasons to question the undertaking and investments in the billions:
• On the state of development of CCS technology: A recent European Commission
communication on the potential of offshore renewable energy reports that in 1991,
off the coast of Denmark, the world’s first offshore wind farm was installed and that
“30 years later, offshore wind energy is a mature, large-scale technology providing
energy for millions of people across the globe.” In 1996, the world’s first CO2 injection project was set up off the coast of Norway, but compared to wind power, CCS is
still in its infancy. This raises the question of whether the planned investments
in CCS as an interim solution should not rather be used for solutions that already
work or that make sense in the long run.
• On the cost of CCS – technology: The European Commission communication on
the potential of offshore renewable energy in the EU states, that “today, offshore
wind produces clean electricity that compete with, and sometimes is cheaper than
existing fossil fuel-based technology.” In contrast, many CCS projects have not
been realised, because they are too expensive, despite heavy public funding.
• On the GHG footprint of blue hydrogen: The European Hydrogen Strategy describes blue hydrogen as “low-carbon hydrogen”. A recently published peerreviewed study proves that the term “low-carbon” is misleading by examining the
lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of blue hydrogen accounting for both carbon
dioxide and unburned fugitive methane. It finds that heating with blue hydrogen
leaves a 20% larger GHG footprint compared to heating with fossil fuels such
as natural gas or coal. In comparison to diesel oil, blue hydrogen even causes
about 60% higher emissions. Equipping fossil fuel combustion plants with CCS increases their fuel consumption by up to 40%. The release of fugitive methane also
dismisses blue hydrogen as a means for climate mitigation. For the study’s conservative default assumptions for methane emissions, total carbon dioxide equivalent
emissions for blue hydrogen are only 9%-12% less than for gray hydrogen. In a sensitivity analysis in which the methane emission rate from natural gas is reduced to
a low value under 2 %, greenhouse gas emissions from blue hydrogen are still greater than from simply burning natural gas. The analysis assumes that captured carbon dioxide can be stored indefinitely, an optimistic and unproven assumption. Thus,
the study concludes: “We see no way that blue hydrogen can be considered ‘green’.”
• On the environmental risks of CCS – technology: As CCS is very energy-intensive,
large-scale deployment of blue hydrogen means that more fossil fuels have to be exploited. In addition, the European Hydrogen Strategy assumes that underground storage of CO2
is safe. However, this has not been proven and the possibility of leaks due
to faulty construction, earthquakes or other underground movements argue against it.
Geoengineering in the European Union 13/39 - EU funding increasingly plays a role in
financing geoengineering projects
During the first four EU multi-annual Framework Programmes, research projects on
geoengineering played little or no role. Especially during FP7 and FP8, the number
of EU-funded geoengineering projects and the funding allocated to them increased
significantly. With regard to its content, this trend will continue in FP9, even though
the proposed geoengineering technologies have no track record, are associated with
significant risks, and do not address the root causes of climate change.
Starting in 1984, the European Union has bundled its research, technological development
and demonstration programs into multi-annual Framework Programmes (FP). FP1 (1984-
1987) and FP2 (1987-1991) have no reference to the subject of geoengineering in terms of
content. FP1 includes several studies on the circulation of CO2 in the atmosphere, in oceans
and on a global scale.3
An examination of anthropogenic influences on the climate begins
in the context of individual research projects in FP2.4 In FP3 (1991-1994) and FP4 (1994-
1998) the EU funded the first research projects on the technical and economic feasibility
of CO2 capture from fossil fuel derived flue gas, on CO2 fixation in marine environments,
as well as an initial study on the feasibility of geological CO2 storage. Figure 2, based on
annex 1, shows how the number of geoengineering projects in the Framework Programmes
has developed and provides an overview of the programme contents. The data analysed and
presented in annex 1 not only confirm that the number of research projects on geoengineering has increased more than fivefold over the past decades, but also that the number
of GE experiments has multiplied. Within FP8, with 55 known EU-funded GE projects,
more than 40 field trials were conducted, including demonstration sites for CO2
capture
and CCUS, CO2 injection sites, and marine offshore trial sites.
3 European Commission (2021) CORDIS database – FP1 projects: Interdisciplinary study of the
carbon cycle – to study the temporal variations of atmospheric trace gases, Global climate and
atmospheric carbon dioxide: role of circulation, Global climate and atmospheric carbon dioxide:
role of ocean circulation, Interdisciplinary study on the carbon cycle – simulation of carbon cycle
and CO2-concentration in the atmosphere, Global climate and CO2: The role of oceanic circulation
4 European Commission (2021) CORDIS database – FP2 projects: Emissions of greenhouse gases
from coal-fired plants, Biochemical carbon cycling in coastal zones, The global carbon cycle and its
perturbation by man and climate, The global carbon cycle and its perturbation by man and climate,
The greenhouse effect and European economic growth
Geoengineering in the European Union 14/39
Information on the budgets of geoengineering projects and the funding shares allocated by
the European Union are available for the Framework Programmes FP5 to FP8. Figure 3
and the data presented in annex 2 show that funding for geoengineering projects in FP8
has increased more than fifteenfold compared to FP5. At the same time, the volume of
funding for geoengineering projects, measured against the total budget of each Framework
Programme, has increased almost fivefold. The share of EU funding for individual projects
has also climbed: In FP5, FP6 and FP7, the EU covered on average 50% of the project
costs. In FP8, this share increased to 73.4%.
Figure 2: The number of EU-funded projects on geoengineering has increased significantly
in FP7 and FP8. Please see Annex 1 for further details.
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
FP1 (1984-1987)
FP2 (1987-1991)
FP3 (1991-1994)
FP4 (1994-1998)
FP5 (1998-2002)
FP6 (2002-2006)
FP7 (2007-2013)
FP8 (2014-2020)
Number and contents of EU-funded geoengineering projects
Biochar
BECCS
CO2-capture
CCS
CCUS
DAC
Marine GE (e.g., Ocean fertilisation)
SRM-related projects
Other
2
Number of projects
Biochar BECCS CO2
-capture CCS CCUS DAC
Marine GE (e.g., Ocean fertilisation) SRM-related projects Other
Geoengineering in the European Union 15/39
FP8, also named Horizon 2020, is now being replaced by FP9, aka Horizon Europe. The
European Green Deal stipulated that “at least 35% of the budget of Horizon Europe will
fund new solutions for climate”. Horizon Europe has a total budget of €95.5 billion. In
Pillar II, Cluster 5 – Climate, Energy and Mobility, FP9 aims to accelerate the development of various geoengineering approaches. The 2021-2022 Work Programme for Cluster 5
includes CO2 capture technologies, CCUS in the power sector and energy intensive industries, CCUS possibilities in hubs and clusters, so-called “low-carbon” hydrogen from natural gas with CCUS, DAC approaches, CCS, geological CO2 storage, and biochar. It can
therefore be assumed that the amount of EU funding for GE-relevant research projects will
not decrease in FP9, but rather increase. This is also supported by the fact that in February
2020, the European Parliament confirmed five pan-European CCS/CCUS networks as
“Projects of Common Interest”, even though the geoengineering technologies in question
have no track record, pose significant risks and do not address the root causes of climate
change. The selected CCS/CCUS networks include the Dutch projects ATHOS and PORTHOS , the Irish Ervia Cork CCS, the Longship CCS in Norway and the British Acorn CCS.
Inclusion in the list of Projects of Common Interest means that projects can apply for priority funding, but there is no guarantee of funding.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
FP5 FP6 FP7 FP8 (H2020)
EU funding for GE projects in FP’s 5 to 8
Total budget for GE projects per FP (in € million)
EU share of total budget (in € million)
Average EU-funding share for individual GE projects (in %)
Figure 3: EU funding for geoengineering projects has increased in several ways:
The funding volume in the individual FPs has grown as well as the percentage of
EU-funding per project. Please see annex 2 for further details. € million
Geoengineering in the European Union 16/39 - The role of geoengineering in nationally
elaborated climate plans gaps widely
The national strategy plans take very different positions on geoengineering technologies:
some do not mention them at all, while in one case a GE approach is described as
a “breakthrough technology”, others assume that geoengineering technologies will
become interesting in 10 to 20 years at the earliest. Where geoengineering technologies
are mentioned, mostly CCS and/or CCUS, they are to be tested and further developed,
the latter mainly to reduce their high costs. An additional concern is the very high
energy consumption of CCS and CCUS, adding to the consumption of fossil fuels. As
a result, many proposed GE projects are suspected of generating extra emissions.
To outline the role of geoengineering at the national level, climate relevant national strategic plans of the EU member states, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom
were reviewed – to understand which forms of GE matter and to what extent. The National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) and the National Recovery and Resilience Plans
(NRRPs) submitted to the European Commission were examined, where available, as well as
the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted to the UNFCCC secretariat. In
the NECPs, the EU member states provide information on national energy and climate targets for the period 2021 to 2030, based on Regulation (EU) 2017/1999 on the Governance
of the Energy Union and Climate Action. In order to be eligible for the European Recovery
and Resilience Facility, EU member states must submit a NRRP that allocates at least 37%
of spending to climate-related investments. The NDCs are based on the Paris Agreement,
article 4, paragraph 2, and outline post-2020 climate action at national level. In addition to
the information in the National Strategic Plans, the available date in the Geoengineering Map
was used to examine what experiences the individual countries have gained to date with the
geoengineering technologies identified in their National Strategic Plans.
The results in annex 3 demonstrate that four countries – Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal and
Switzerland – make no reference to researching or using geoengineering technologies in
their national strategic plans. In the case of Malta and Luxembourg, no experience with
geoengineering technologies has come to light to date. However, Portuguese and Swiss research institutions and companies have participated in pan-European research projects on
geoengineering. In Switzerland, public funding has been made available for geoengineering
projects on several occasions, and spin-offs of the ETH Zurich develop and commercialise
geoengineering technologies, including outside Switzerland.
The national strategic plans of the other countries address up to three geoengineering technologies, including CCS, CCU, CCUS, BECCS and DAC. CCS is mentioned most often, 23 times,
CCU/CCUS second most often, 18 times, and DAC and BECCS two to three times each.
The views on the future role of the aforementioned geoengineering technologies differ widely. The Austrian NECP describes CCUS as a “breakthrough technology for industry”, although there is little experience on CCUS at national level. The Cypriot NECP did not
consider CCU technologies “due to the lack of available data”. In the context of CCUS, it
is important to mention that CCUS products are not a permanent CO2 storage. Moreover,
Geoengineering in the European Union 17/39
CCUS is very energy- and cost-intensive, especially the process of CO2 capture. As a result,
there is a risk that CCUS generates additional climate-related emissions instead of avoiding them.
With CCS, the energy and cost issues are similar, and in addition, the underground storage
of CO2
is associated with high risks. As a result, more than 50% of known CCS proposals
in Germany have been cancelled due to public opposition. Nevertheless, the German NECP
states with regard on CCS that a “vast majority of studies and scenarios have now confirmed that from today’s perspective, CCS technology is vital for the achievement of greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050”. The Finnish NRRP describes CCS as an “important technology” with “the potential to grow into a huge market”, although the only known Finnish
CCS project was discontinued due to technological and financial risks. The Dutch NECP
considers CCS “as an inevitable transition technology for reducing CO2 emissions in sectors
where no cost-effective alternative is available in the short term”. The Polish NECP points
out that CCS technology is “recommended by the European Commission”, but “despite a
wide-ranging research effort, it will be extremely difficult for CCS technologies to become
commercially mature”. In addition, the Polish NECP states that “CCS technologies have
proved to be very difficult to apply widely” and, that “it is not a foregone conclusion when
these technologies will be commercially available, given that the last 10 years have not
brought any significant progress, especially in terms of cost reduction”. The Hungarian
and Slovenian NECPs assume that CCS will become interesting in 10 to 20 years at the
earliest. The results of CCS projects to date confirm this: Major CCS projects worldwide,
which were highly praised by the industry in their early days, are struggling with major
technical and financial problems – despite very substantial public funding in the millions,
e.g., the Australian Gorgon CCS project, the US Petra Nova project and the Canadian SaskPower project. Apart from the fact that the safety of underground storage of captured CO2
has not been proven, the captured CO2
is often used for Enhanced Oil Recovery – thus extracting more oil and producing extra emissions.
The NDCs of Norway and the UK barely mention geoengineering technologies. However, this contrasts with the scale of public funding programmes for geoengineering – both
countries have significant public funding available, including for the Longship CCS project
in Norway and the HyNet North West project in the UK. In the European context, these
two countries have had the most extensive experience with CCS, but many projects have
failed, mostly due to high costs. Or fossil fuel companies have been unwilling to undertake
CCS projects without substantial public funding, as in the case of the Logannet project.
Some countries have been more specific regarding the expenditure or projects that will be
implemented in relation to geoengineering: The Belgian NRRP announced €10 million to
demonstrate CCS and CCUS. The Croatian NECP envisages a national feasibility study to assess CCS and CCUS; the costs of the study are estimated at HRK 1 million. The Danish NRRP
proposes DKK 200 million “for a subsidy scheme to support the development and demonstration of CO2 storage sites in depleted oil and gas fields in the Danish part of the North Sea”.
The Finnish NRRP will set up a €156 million programme to encourage “the scaling up of
hydrogen production using clean energy and its utilisation and of carbon dioxide capture
and use/storage”. The Romanian NRRP includes support for two gas-fired power plants
with CO2 capture. Both projects, Halanga and Constanta, plan to channel the captured CO2
into greenhouses, which means that the captured CO2
will be released back into the atmosphere after a short period of time. As CO2 capture consumes more natural gas, additional
emissions are generated – an issue that applies to the entire CCUS/CCS sector.
Geoengineering in the European Union 18/39 - The number of geoengineering actors
in the EU is increasing
The number of lobbying organisations working on geoengineering in the EU has
doubled within the last few years. Some of the organisations have been initiated and
financially supported by the European Commission. It seems that the natural gas
industry in particular is strongly committed in order to continue using fossil fuels, but
in combination with CCS. Many members of the advocacy organisations have been
involved in EU-FP projects on geoengineering – their share of project partners from
industry was almost 50%.
In Europe, there are at least 20 larger and smaller organisations actively promoting the
use of geoengineering technologies. Of these, half have been founded only recently – within
the last five years. The organisations most frequently advocate for CCS, CCUS and socalled “low-carbon gases/low-carbon hydrogen” (please see annex 4).
Four of the initiatives were launched with EU funding, including the CCUS Projects Network
and CO2
GeoNet. The CCUS Projects Network aims to support industrial CCUS/CCS projects and “works closely with the European Commission and the Network’s Steering Committee to ensure that members’ needs and interests are provided for while supporting the
EU’s climate action ambitions”. In its early years, the network received €3 million in
funding under an EU FP7 project and continues to receive EU support. However, it is led by
its members, including Gassnova, Tata Steel, Drax and the Port of Rotterdam. CO2
GeoNet
advocates for CCS and aims to be the preferred source of “information and advice for the
European Union, industry, regulators, the general public and other CCS stakeholders”. The
network emerged from an eponymous EU FP6-project and was funded with €6 million.
Public funding has also been spent in the UK to finance geoengineering initiatives, including the CCUS Advisory Group. This group is to support the implementation of the CCUSUK Action Plan and includes representatives from Shell, BP, Tata Steel and Drax.
No less than six organisations are campaigning for “low-carbon hydrogen” with CCS. Their
members are mainly companies from the natural gas sector that seek to develop a hydrogen
economy based on existing infrastructures. One of the organisations is Hydrogen Europe – a
lobbying platform with nearly 200 industry members. In addition to its lobbying activities,
Hydrogen Europe is simultaneously working with the European Commission as a research body
in a joint undertaking on hydrogen. This close link between industry and research can also be
observed in the research projects on geoengineering in the European framework programmes.
There, the share of project partners from industry is almost 50%. The majority of industrial partners come from the energy sector or from energy-intensive industries. The companies
that have participated most frequently in EU-funded FP projects, more than ten times, include
ALSTOM Power, RWE Power AG, Shell, Statoil and Vattenfall. Among the research institutions, the most frequent participants, more than 15 times, were SINTEF (Norway), TNO
(Netherlands), CSIC (Spain), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France), Bureau de
Recherches Géologiques et Minières (France), and the British NERC. The EU-funded research
projects on geoengineering were not evenly distributed across the EU. Research institutions
and industrial partners from the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway and Italy
were most frequently involved and coordinated more than two thirds of the projects.
Geoengineering in the European Union 19/39 - Geoengineering is not compatible with the
goals of the European Green Deal – and
may even make it more difficult
to achieve them
The European Green Deal aims to address climate and environmental challenges.
Geoengineering is not an appropriate response to these challenges, as the proposed
geoengineering technologies pose unmanageable risks for the environment and may
even hinder the implementation of the European Green Deal goals. One example
is the very high energy consumption of CO2
capture processes underlying many
geoengineering technologies. The high consumption can lead to both increased fossil
fuel extraction and a delayed phase-out of fossil fuels.
The following table provides selected examples of why the use of geoengineering is more
detrimental than beneficial to the goals under the umbrella of the European Green Deal.
Targets to be implemented
under the umbrella of
the European Green Deal
Inconsistencies with the European Green Deal arising
from the use of geoengineering technologies
The European Green Deal
demands the “phasing out
of fossil fuels”.
Prolonged/increased use of fossil fuels: The combination with CCS/CCUS, is intended to justify the continued use of fossil fuels. However, the CO2 capture process is very
energy-intensive, which leads to a significantly higher consumption of fossil fuels. The
higher consumption delays the phase-out of fossil fuels.
The high energy consumption of many of the GE-approaches would lead to increased
extraction and combustion of fossil fuels. Yet, according to the EEA, the EU is already
importing about 50% of its domestic energy consumption and “the EU’s dependence on
fossil fuel imports has increased”. The extra combustion of fossil fuels due to the deployment of GE technologies would lead to added climate-related emissions along the entire
fossil fuel value chain.
The European Green Deal
“aims to protect, conserve
and enhance the EU’s natural capital, and protect
the health and well-being
of citizens from environment-related risks and
impacts”.
The Zero Pollution Action
Plan calls “improving air
quality to reduce the number of premature deaths
caused by air pollution by
55%”.
Air pollution: GE technologies focus on the capture of CO2
. But the combustion of fossil
fuels also releases methane and air pollutants. Methane is not only an important greenhouse
gas, but can also reacts with other chemicals in the atmosphere to form ozone and to reduce
the amount of “detergent” available to clean other types of pollutants. With further use of
natural gas in particular, e.g., to produce blue hydrogen, fugitive methane emissions will
increase. The air pollutants include nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, non-methane volatile
organic compounds, and particulate matter. The high energy usage of many GE technologies, such as CCS, can translate into more fossil fuels being combusted and more pollutants
being released into the environment. This applies to power plants but also to many other
energy-intensive industries. The pollutants may cause different and also multiple damages.
One example is black carbon, which is formed during the incomplete combustion of fossil
fuels. The EEA describes black carbon as particularly harmful to health and climate “as it
represents a mixture of very fine, partly carcinogenic particles, small enough to enter the
bloodstream and reach other organs”; and “In the atmosphere the carbon-containing pollutant effectively absorbs solar radiation leading to a warming of the atmosphere. When
it settles on snow or ice, the darker colour absorbs more heat, accelerating melting.”.
Not only with regard to CO2
, but also with regard to air pollutants, neither prolonged nor
increased burning of fossil fuels is compatible with the goals of the European Green Deal.
But this is exactly where the use of energy-intensive GE technologies can lead.
Table 1: Geoengineering technologies and their inconsistencies with the targets under the
umbrella of the European Green Deal
Geoengineering in the European Union 20/39
Targets to be implemented
under the umbrella of
the European Green Deal
Inconsistencies with the European Green Deal arising
from the use of geoengineering technologies
The New European
Strategy on Adaptation to
Climate Change finds that
“The EU committed to
climate neutrality by 2050
and a more ambitious
emissions reduction target
of at least 55% by 2030,
compared to 1990. A
climate emergency has
been recognised by the
European Parliament, by
several Member States,
and by over 300 cities.
The European Council has
concluded that climate
change is “an existential
threat”.”
CO2 storage safety: No geoengineering technology can guarantee safe and long-term
CO2 storage. The safety of geological CO2 storage sites is not proven – leakages cannot
be excluded, e.g., due to underground movements. Moreover, captured CO2 is often used
for EOR, leading to the extraction of more fossil fuels and even greater emissions.
If the injected CO2
were to escape, humans, animals and nature could be harmed. The
leaked, anthropogenically emitted CO2
degrades only very slowly. After 1,000 years, up
to 40% is still in the atmosphere. However, the entire decomposition process takes several
hundred thousand years.
Effective response to the climate emergency: Geoengineering technologies cannot be
deployed quickly on a large scale, are associated with unmanageable risks and also with
high investment and energy costs. Thus, they are not a suited to respond to the climate
emergency declared by the European Parliament.
Increase in GHG emissions: According to the EEA, the EU imports about 50% of its
domestic energy consumption and “the EU’s dependence on fossil fuel imports has increased”. The large energy consumption of many GE processes, such as CCUS and CCS,
would exacerbate this trend and lead to additional climate-relevant emissions along the
entire fossil fuel value chain. This cannot be an appropriate response to the declared
climate emergency.
EU strategy to reduce
methane emissions
(Communication from the
European Commission).
Methane emissions (and safety of proposed CO2 storage sites): “In the energy sector,
methane leaks from fossil fuel production sites, transmission systems, ships and distribution systems […] contribute to 50% of the energy sector’s emissions”. Abandoned mines,
oil and gas sites can have significant levels of emission, “however, at present, there are
no EU-wide rules on checking, measuring or utilising methane leakage or emissions from
coalmines or oil and gas wells after their closure.” If the deployment of energy-intensive GE technologies delays the phase-out of fossil fuels, methane emissions will endure.
A recent study points to the large number of methane leaks from fossil extraction sites.
The same structures are proposed for underground storage of CO2 – casting further doubt
on the safety of underground storage. Even with very strict regulations for the oil and gas
sector, methane emissions will remain a problem: The Climate & Clean Air Coalition’s(CCAC)
Scientific Advisory Panel estimates that a maximum of 70% of methane emissions from
fossil fuels can be abated. This means that blue hydrogen will always face a methane
problem, which will not be solved by CCS and CCU.
Chemicals Strategy for
Sustainability. Towards a
Toxic-Free Environment
(Communication from the
European Commission).
Production and disposal of chemicals: Many technical approaches to CO2 capture require very large quantities of toxic chemicals. These chemicals not only have to be produced, but also transported and disposed of. Geoengineering would therefore complicate
the path to a toxic-free environment.
On a new approach for a
sustainable blue economy
in the EU. Transforming
the EU’s Blue Economy
for a Sustainable Future
(Communication from the
European Commission).
Conservation and security of marine ecosystems: The EC’s Communication on a
Sustainable Blue Economy highlights the importance of marine ecosystems. The “oceans
hold 97% of all our water and 80% of all life forms”, “food for almost half of humanity, and
critical resources for human health, not to mention a web of economic interactions”. Some
geoengineering proposals are to be implemented directly in the marine environment. The effectiveness of these proposals has not been proven, and the associated risks, e.g., for marine
food chains, are incalculable. But a delayed phase-out of fossil fuels, due to energy-intensive
GE technologies, is also associated with drawbacks for the marine environment, such as oil
spills, acidification, changes in water temperature, and biodiversity loss.
European Green Deal: “All
EU policies should contribute to preserving and
restoring Europe’s natural
capital” new EU Strategy
on Adaptation to Climate
Change: “implementing
nature-based solutions on
a larger scale would increase climate resilience
and contribute to multiple
Green Deal objectives”.
Land usage: Geoengineering technologies that rely on biomass, such as BECCS and
biochar, would consume a great deal of land if introduced on a large scale. This would not
only create competition with food production, but also jeopardise the desired conservation
and restoration of natural capital.
Geoengineering in the European Union 21/39
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All of the proposed geoengineering technologies carry unmanageable risks, and many of the
proposals are very costly and energy-intensive. One of the biggest risks, however, is that geoengineering technologies create a false sense of security, even though none of the proposed
technologies have been proven to work – despite decades of research and extensive funding.
Geoengineering in the European Union 22/39
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Chapter 3
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Geoengineering in the European Union 23/39
Chapter 4
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Geoengineering in the European Union 24/39
Chapter 6
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Geoengineering in the European Union 25/39
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Annexes
Annex 1 (chapter 4, figure 2): Number and contents of EU-funded geoengineering projects
FP
No. of
(known)
projects
Biochar BECCS CO2-
capture CCS CCUS DAC
Marine GE
(e.g., Ocean
fertilisation)
SRMrelated
projects
Other
Number
of trial
sites
FP1
(1984-1987)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FP2
(1987-1991)
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FP3
(1991-1994)
6 0 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
FP4
(1994-1998)
4 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 3
FP5
(1998-2002)
10 0 0 2 7 1 0 0 0 0 4
FP6
(2002-2006)
16 0 0 7 8 0 0 0 0 1 5
FP7
(2007-2013)
36 2 0 8 16 4 1 0 4 1 13
FP8
(2014-2020)
55 0 1 10 16 23 0 2 0 3 41
Sources:
ETC Group & Heinrich Böll Foundation (2021) Geoengineering Map, accessed: May 2021,
https://map.geoengineeringmonitor.org/
European Commission (2021) CORDIS database, https://cordis.europa.eu/search/en
Geoengineering in the European Union 26/39
Annex 2 (chapter 4, figure 3): EU funding for GE projects in FP’s 5 to 8
Framework
Programme
(FP)
Number of
(known)
GE-related
projects
Total FP
budget in
Billion €
GE-Projects:
Total Budget
in Million €
GE-Projects:
EU-share in
Million €
GE-Projects:
EU-share
in %
EU funding:
share of the
known GE
projects
in total FP
budget
FP1 0 0 0 0 0
FP2 0 0 0 0 0
FP3 6 not available not available not available not available
FP4 4 not available not available not available not available
FP5 10 15.00 28.07 14.65 52.17% 0.10%
FP6 16 17.50 119.12 65.10 54.65% 0.37%
FP7 36 50.50 377.40 172.54 45.72% 0.34%
FP8 (H2020) 55 70.20 456.77 335.21 73.39% 0.48%
Sources:
ETC Group & Heinrich Böll Foundation (2021) Geoengineering Map, accessed: May 2021,
https://map.geoengineeringmonitor.org/
Fabbi, F., European Commission, Press and Communication Directorate-General (2002) The 6t
h EU Research
Framework Programme ready for the kick-off: Commissioner Philippe Busquin outlines the way forward, published:
21.06.2002,
https://www.innovations-report.de/sonderthemen/veranstaltungsnachrichten/bericht-61941/
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (2021) Budget Horizont 2020, accessed: May 2021,
https://www.horizont2020.de/einstieg-budget.htm
Frima, H., European Commission (2007) The EU 7th Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development
and Demonstration, published: 09.10.2007, https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiEvfHcqq7wAhVCzaQKHToBDEcQFjACegQIBRAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fescies.org%2Fdownload%2FwebDocumentFile%3Fid%3D7197&usg=AOvVaw3m2oQYxsEyw0cRhFquVTa5
McCarthy, S., Hyperion (2000) The EU Fifth Framework Programme, accessed: May 2021,
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwifrdyEpq7wAhVKNOwKHYYpDJAQFjAEegQIAhAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hyperion.ie%2FEU%2520R%26D%-
2520Funding.PDF&usg=AOvVaw3h04KHdKfcfOcZT3vRfWA_
Geoengineering in the European Union 27/39
Annex 3 (chapter 5): The role of geoengineering in national strategic plans
Country
Geoengineering technologies addressed
in national
strategic plans
The role of geoengineering
technologies in national strategic plans
(NECPs, NRRPs, NDCs, where available)
Experience with the geoengineering
technologies identified in the national
strategic plans
European Member States
Austria CCU The Austrian NECP (12/2019) proposes CCUS as a “breakthrough technology
for industry” and suggests “greater consideration should be given to the key opportunities offered by Carbon Capture and
Utilisation (CCU) for European industry”.
The Austrian company AVL List GmbH
participates in the EU-funded EcoFuel project; the project aims to develop
fuels based on captured CO2
.
Belgium CCS, CCUS The Belgian NECP (12/2019) proposes the
large petrochemical clusters in Flanders as
“an ideal region for developing new cooperation and integrating innovative systems
allowing tens of millions of tonnes of CO2
to be offset, collected or sequestered, or
transformed into useful products” and announced studies in this context as well as to
examine CO2 capture at waste incineration
facilities, aiming to use the captured
CO2 “as a raw material in a circular
economy”. The Belgian NRRP (06/2021)
announced €10 M to demonstrate CCS/
CCUS as well as investments in the
infrastructure for / production of hydrogen
in combination with CCS/CCUS.
Belgian companies and research institutions conducted several EU-funded
research projects on CCUS and on
CO2 capture. The pan-European project
STEELANOL is currently constructing a
CCUS pilot plant at ArcelorMittal’s steel
plant in Gent. At the same site, ArcelorMittal and LanzaTech aim to demonstrate
CO2 capture for the production of ethanol
and further CO2 -based chemicals.
Bulgaria BECCS The Bulgarian NECP (undated, accessed: 08/2021) considers biomass plants
with CCS for electricity generation.
Bulgarian research institutions participated in pan-European research projects
on CCS and CO2 capture. Experiences in
connection with BECCS have not yet
been reported.
Croatia CCS, CCUS The Croatian NECP (12/2019) proposes a
platform for CCS and CCUS, to evaluate
“a) availability of a suitable location for
storage, b) transport facilities are technically and economically feasible and
c) upgrade of facilities for CO2 capture is
technically and economically feasible”.
A National Feasibility Study will look at
“emission sources, transport, injection and
storage of CO2
, and the interconnection
of the CO2 transport system with other
EU countries” and “plans to inform the
public about carbon dioxide capture and
storage technology”. The costs of the
study are estimated at HRK 1 million.
Croatian research institutions participated in pan-European research projects on
CCUS and CO2 storage. There are plans to
establish a CCS project at the geothermal
plant AAAT Geothermae in Draškovec.
Cyprus CCS, CCU The Cypriot NECP (01/2020) proposes to
“assess the exploitation of CCS and CCU
technologies” and adds: “However, it has
been noted that emerging technologies like
hydrogen and carbon capture and storage
have not been considered in the above scenario due to the lack of available data”.
The Electricity Authority of Cyprus
participated in a pan-European research
project on CO2 capture technologies.
Czechia CCS, CCU The Czech NECP (11/2019) proposes to
consider “a combination of natural gas
with CCS or CCU”.
Czech companies and research institutions
participated in several pan-European
research projects related to CO2 capture
and CCS. The depleted oilfield LBr-1,
in Moravia, is serving as a test site for
CO2 injections, e.g., for the pan-European
ENOS project. Plans for a CCS project in
Vresova have been cancelled.
Geoengineering in the European Union 28/39
Country
Geoengineering technologies addressed
in national
strategic plans
The role of geoengineering
technologies in national strategic plans
(NECPs, NRRPs, NDCs, where available)
Experience with the geoengineering
technologies identified in the national
strategic plans
European Member States
Denmark BECCS, CCS,
CCUS
The Danish NECP (12/2019) states that
“CCS needs to be demonstrated at scale”
and that “Bioenergy should be used in
high-value sectors (transport), and sustainability remains a challenge”. The
Danish NRRP proposes DKK 200 million
“for a subsidy scheme to support the
development and demonstration of
CO2 storage sites in depleted oil and gas
fields in the Danish part of the North Sea”.
The NRRP adds that “CCS is foreseen
to contribute significantly to the achievement of Danish greenhouse gas reduction
targets” and that “storage sites for CO2
in depleted Danish oil and gas fields could
play an important role in storage of CO2
from other EU member states”. “CCUS is
expected to be a growing industry.”
Danish research institutions coordinated various pan-European research
projects on CCS. A new CCS project, a
proposal with onshore CO2 capture and
offshore injections, has concluded a first
feasibility study. Former plans for an
onshore CCS project have been cancelled.
The Danish Union Engineering markets
CCUS technology for recovering CO2
from
fermentation processes in breweries.
Experiences in connection with BECCS
have not yet been reported.
Estonia CCS, CCUS The Estonian NECP (12/2019) states that
“according to current knowledge, Estonia
does not have suitable geological conditions for storing CO2
”. Currently, a study
is conducted “to assess the suitability of
different carbon capture technologies and
develop scenarios for implementing these
technologies in the Estonian oil shale industry”. The NECP proposes to look into
“cooperation opportunities of the Nordic
countries and Baltic States […] for the
development of future technologies (energy
storage, CCUS, hydrogen, etc.)”.
Estonian companies and research
institutions participated in various
pan-European research projects on CCS
and CCUS.
Estonia is a member of the BASRECCS Network.
Finland CCS, CCU The Finnish NRRP (2021) describes CCU
and CCS as “important technologies”
with “the potential to grow into a huge
market”. A €156 million programme will
be set up to encourage “the scaling up of
hydrogen production using clean energy
and its utilisation and of carbon dioxide
capture and use/storage”.
There was no reference to the use of geoengineering technologies in the European
NDC or the Finnish NECP (12/2019).
Finish research institutions and companies
participated in various pan-European
research projects on CO2 capture, CCUS
and CCS. The Finish government financed
research on biochar, DAC and CCUS and
Finish companies developed CCUS and
DAC technology. Plans for a CCS project
have been cancelled.
France BECCS, CCS,
CCUS
The French NECP (03/2020) states that
“carbon capture and storage will only compensate for residual non-energy emissions
and the residual emissions from fossil fuels
that are still used for certain means of
transport (aviation)” and that “in 2050,
these technologies would make it possible to
avoid around 6 MtCO2
/year in industry and
to achieve a dozen or so MtCO2
each year
in negative emissions for biomass energy
generation installations (BECCS)”. The
French NRRP (2021) proposes to decarbonize industry by “deploying decarbonised
processes and carbon capture and storage
or recovery”. In addition, the French NECP
identified the following research and innovation requirements, among others: “carbon
capture, storage and reuse solutions”.
French research institutions and companies
coordinated more than 15
pan-European and EU-funded research
projects on CO2 capture, CCUS and CCS,
and conducted field tests to trial CO2
capture and CO2 injections. French public
funds financed additional projects, mainly
on CCS, but also on BECCS and CCUS.
A number of CCS projects have been
implemented with the participation of
companies in the energy sector.
A CCUS pilot trial is conducted by Vicat.
Geoengineering in the European Union 29/39
Country
Geoengineering technologies addressed
in national
strategic plans
The role of geoengineering
technologies in national strategic plans
(NECPs, NRRPs, NDCs, where available)
Experience with the geoengineering
technologies identified in the national
strategic plans
European Member States
Germany CCS, CCU,
DAC
The German NECP (2019) proposes to
further develop “CCU/CCS options”. It
states that a “vast majority of studies and
scenarios have now confirmed that from
today’s perspective, CCS technology is
vital for the achievement of greenhouse
gas neutrality by 2050”and that
“technologies which separate carbon
out of industrial exhaust gases and in
particular the atmosphere are needed
for this” The NECP adds that “research
into carbon separation, transport,
storage, long-term sequestration and
use technologies will be stepped up so
that domestic companies and research
institutions can assume a pioneering role
in this area”.
Germany research institutions and
companies coordinated more than
15 pan-European and EU-funded
research projects on CO2 capture,
CCUS and CCS. The German public
sector financed further projects, mainly
on CCUS, CCS and DAC, often at
industrial sites, in some cases also outside
Germany, e.g., in Chile. Most pilot
tests and demonstration projects were
conducted by industry, e.g., in aviation,
cement and further energy-intensive
sectors. More than 50% of known
CCS projects in Germany have been
cancelled due to public opposition.
Greece CCS, CCUS The Greek NECP (12/2019) proposes
research to develop “CO2 capture, storage
and use technologies” and “ensuring the
capture, storage and utilisation of carbon
dioxide from power generation plants using
conventional fuels and industrial uses”.
The Greek NRRP (04/2021) “contains a
measure to develop Greece’s first carbon
capture, utilisation and storage investment
by developing transportation and storage
on CO2
into geological features.”
Greece research institutions coordinated
five pan-European projects on CO2 capture
technologies and participated in various
other pan-European research projects
on CCS and CCUS. A hydrogen plant
with CCS in Northern Greece has
been proposed.
Hungary CCS The Hungarian NECP (2019) states,
that “power stations with CCS will be
available only after 2030” and that
“until CO2 capture and storage become
economical it will probably not be
profitable to build conventional coal-fired
power plants in Europe”.
Hungarian research institutions
participated in several pan-European
research projects on CCS, CCUS
and DAC.
Ireland CCS The Irish NECP (2019) proposes to
“examine the feasibility of the utilisation
of CCS in Ireland and to develop policy in
the area” and “states that Carbon Capture
and Storage (CCS) is recognised as a
potential bridging technology that could
support the transition to a low carbon
economy”. The NECP adds that “Ireland
adopted a 5-year CCS review process,
which will inform any decision to commit
resources to put regulatory and permitting
systems in place” and “is currently
assessing a project at feasibility stage
promoted by Ervia”. The NECP proposes
funding for various research areas, among
them “carbon capture & storage (CCS)”.
The Irish Department of Environment,
Climate and Communications participated
in a pan-European research project
on CCS. A CCS project has been proposed
by fossil-fuelled power companies.
Geoengineering in the European Union 30/39
Country
Geoengineering technologies addressed
in national
strategic plans
The role of geoengineering
technologies in national strategic
plans (NECPs, NRRPs, NDCs, where
available)
Experience with the geoengineering
technologies identified in the national
strategic plans
European Member States
Italy CCS, CCU The Italian NECP (12/2019) proposes
to “promote the geological capture
of CO2
[…] both in the electricity and
industrial sectors” and to employ CO2
“in power-to-liquid […] with
CO2 captured from the air or derived
from waste”.
Italian research institutions coordinated
more than five pan-European projects
on CCUS and CO2 capture technologies
and participated in further pan-European
research projects on CCS and CCUS.
Several pilot projects are located in Italy,
including a CCS test site for the panEuropean ENOS project.
Latvia CCS, CCU The Latvian NECP (11/2020) proposes
“innovative solutions for capturing and
reuse of carbon” and states that
“in addition, future technologies (energy
storage, CCU, hydrogen, etc.) will be
sought in cooperation with the Nordic
countries and the Baltic States”.
Latvian research institutions participated
in pan-European research projects on CCS
and CCUS.
Lithuania CCS, CCU The Lithuanian NECP (2019) states
that it is “necessary to further
develop carbon capture, use and
storage technologies and to analyse
their applications in Lithuania”.
The proposed analysis will cover an
“assessment of CO2
capture, use and
storage chain alternatives” as well as
“a feasibility study on the application
of CO2 capture, use and storage
technologies in Lithuania”. The NECP
also proposes “a detailed analysis of
the feasibility and usefulness of projects
implemented with other countries of
the EU common economic area (to
the geological structures of which the
CO2 captured in Lithuania could be
exported)”.
Lithuanian research organisations
participated in pan-European research
projects on CCS and CCUS.
Luxembourg – There is no reference to the use of
geoengineering technologies in the
European NDC, the Luxembourgian NECP (12/2018) and the Luxembourgian NRRP (06/2021).
Information on geoengineering-related
research activities in Luxembourg has not
yet been reported.
Malta – There is no reference to the use
of geoengineering technologies
in the European NDC,
Malta’s NECP (12/2019) and
Malta’s NRRP (2021).
Information on geoengineering-related
research activities in Malta has not yet
been reported.
The
Netherlands
CCS, CCU The Dutch NECP (11/2019) states
that CCS is regarded “as an inevitable
transition technology for reducing
CO2 emissions in sectors where no
cost-effective alternative is available in
the short term”. The NECP proposes
national “grants for CO2
-reducing
measures”, to combine CCS with
hydrogen production, and to work “with
other Member States
to achieve […] the joint development
of CCU/CCS”.
Dutch research institutions and companies
coordinated about 15 pan-European
projects on CCS, CO2 capture technologies
and CCUS, and participated in many other
pan-European research projects. Over
the past decade, five Dutch CCS projects
have been cancelled, including two in the
Rotterdam Port area. Meanwhile, there
are new proposals for CCS projects,
including the Porthos project at Rotterdam
Port. Dutch companies and research
institutions conducted various trials, e.g.,
a CO2 capture testing campaign at
a Tata Steel plant.
Geoengineering in the European Union 31/39
Country
Geoengineering technologies addressed
in national
strategic plans
The role of geoengineering
technologies in national strategic plans
(NECPs, NRRPs, NDCs, where available)
Experience with the geoengineering
technologies identified in the national
strategic plans
European Member States
Poland CCS, CCU The Polish NECP (2019) points out that
CCS technology is “recommended by the
European Commission”, but adds that
“however, CCS technologies have proved
to be very difficult to apply widely”
and that “a greater potential is seen in
the development of carbon processing
technologies”. The NECP also states that
“it is not a foregone conclusion when
these technologies will be commercially
available, given that the last 10 years
have not brought any significant progress,
especially in terms of cost reduction”
and “as no industrial installation of this
type has yet been put into operation”.
The NECP adds that “despite a wideranging research effort, it will be
extremely difficult for CCS technologies
to become commercially mature”.
Polish research institutions and companies
participated in about 20 pan-European
research projects on CCS, CO2 capture
technologies, CCUS and biochar. Polish
coal seams and a marine site have been
used as pilot sites for CO2 injections in
pan-European research projects, e.g., the
Barbara coal mine.
Portugal – There is no reference to the use of geoengineering technologies in the European NDC, the Portuguese NECP (12/2019)
and the Portuguese NRRP (04/2021).
Portuguese research organisations and
companies participated in pan-European
research projects on CO2 capture, CCS
and CCUS and led the pan-European research project COMET on CO2 transport
and storage in the west Mediterranean.
Romania CCUS The Romanian NRRP (05/2021) includes
support for two gas-fired power plants
with CO2 capture in Halanga and
Constanta. The captured CO2
is to be fed
into greenhouses.
There is no reference to the use of geoengineering technologies in the European NDC
and the Romanian NECP (04/2020).
Romanian research organisations
participated in pan-European
research projects on CO2 capture, CCS
and CCUS. Plans for a CCS project have
been cancelled.
Slovakia CCS The Slovakian NECP (12/2019) proposes
“projects to convert other suitable
geological structures into underground
gas storage facilities, respectively to use
them in another way for energy-related
purposes (CCS)”.
Slovakian research organisations
participated in pan-European
research projects on CCS and CCUS.
Slovenia CCS The Slovenian NECP (02/2020) states
that “there are possibilities for CCS at
existing power sites and also in energyintensive industry” in Slovenia and
assumes that CCS technologies will only
become commercially interesting, “but
this is not expected before 2040”, if
emission allowance prices rise significantly
and electricity demand is not replaced by
renewable, nuclear, or gas-fired power
plants. The NECP stresses that “under the
current legislation […], the injection and
storage of carbon dioxide is prohibited in
Slovenia”.
Slovenian research organisations and
companies participated in pan-European research projects on CCS, biochar
and CCUS. A Slovenian coal mine was
used as a test site for CO2 injections.
Geoengineering in the European Union 32/39
Country
Geoengineering technologies addressed
in national
strategic plans
The role of geoengineering
technologies in national strategic
plans (NECPs, NRRPs, NDCs,
where available)
Experience with the geoengineering
technologies identified in the national
strategic plans
European Member States
Spain CCS The Spanish NECP (01/2020)
proposes “the integration of
CO2 capture technologies to reduce
emissions”. It suggests “promoting
the construction of CO2 capture and
geological storage projects”, through
the NER 300 programme.
Spanish research institutions and companies
coordinated more than five pan-European
projects on CCS, CCUS and CO2 capture
technologies and participated in further
pan-European research projects. Spanish
industrial and research sites served as
tests sites for CCS and CCUS trials, e.g.,
the Compostilla power station and the
IMDEA Energy Institute.
Sweden CCS The Swedish NECP (01/2020)
states that “capture and storage of
carbon dioxide of fossil origin must
be included in the measures” to
enable Sweden to achieve its emission
targets and adds that “CCS must be
demonstrated on a large scale”.
A “three-year demonstration project
for carbon capture and storage (CCS)
at the Preem refinery in Lysekil” will
investigate “the possibility of setting
up a full-scale CCS plant”.
Swedish research institutions and companies
coordinated pan-European projects on
CCS, CCUS and CO2 capture technologies
and participated in further pan-European
research projects.
Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the UK
Iceland CCS, DAC The Icelandic NDC (02/2021) proposes to increase “carbon removals
from the atmosphere”, including by
“carbon capture and mineralization
in rock formations (Carbfix)”.
Reykjavik Energy led the pan-European
research projects CarbFix and GECO and
conducted CO2
-injection trials, e.g., at the
Húsmúli site. The projects combine DAC
and CCS and there are plans to trial the
approach on a larger-scale.
Norway CCS The Norwegian NDC (02/2020)
states that “economic measures like
CO2
- taxes and emission trading are
central to Norwegian climate policy”.
The NDC proposes to support the “development and adoption of low emissions technologies, including carbon
capture and storage technologies”.
Norwegian research institutions and industry
coordinated more than 15 pan-European
research projects on CCS, CCUS and
CO2 capture technologies and have carried out
several CCS projects, including Sleipner and
Snøhvit. A new CCS project is in preparation.
Switzerland – There is no reference to the use of
geoengineering technologies in the
Swiss NDC.
The ETH Zürich participated in pan-European
research projects on geoengineering,
e.g., on BECCS and CO2 storage, and
spin-offs of the ETH developed DAC and
CCUS technology.
The UK CCU (?) The British NDC (12/2020) states
that “the Welsh Government is
investing in people to develop the
skills needed for a low-carbon,
circular economy” and adds that
Northern Ireland plans a “transition
to a low-carbon circular economy”.
Beyond this, there is no evidence
that geoengineering technologies
could play a role in the UK. However,
this contrasts with the scale of
public funding programmes for
geoengineering.
UK research institutions and industry have
coordinated more than 20 pan-European and
EU-funded research projects on CCUS, CCS
and CO2 capture technologies, and have participated in many further pan-European research
projects on geoengineering. Nationally, there are
numerous further programmes and centres in
the UK to research, promote and establish geoengineering, including the UK Carbon Capture
and Storage Research Centre, the UK CCS Infrastructure Fund, and the Centre of Climate
Repair. One of the most extensive publicly funded
programmes is the UK Greenhouse Gas Removal
Programme. Although more than 10 CCS projects have already failed in the UK, major
CCS projects are in the pipeline, supported by
public funds, including the Acorn CCS project
and HyNet North West project.
Geoengineering in the European Union 33/39
Annex 4 (chapter 6): European lobby groups working on the issue of geoengineering
Lobby
group
Founded
in
Head
office
Advocates
for the
following GE
technologies
Goals Members/
funding Further information
BASRECCS 2014/15 various:
http://
basrec.
net/basrec-members/
CCS in the
Baltic Sea
countries
Initiated by BASREC (Baltic
Sea Region Energy Cooperation).
The networks’ goal is to support
the exploration and gradual
implementation of CCS in the
Baltic Sea countries and to
strengthen regional cooperation.
Funding: Global
CCS Institute,
CCSP-Carbon
Capture
and Storage
Program,
Nordic Council
of Ministers,
Baltic Sea
Region Energy
Cooperation
(BASREC)
https://www.bcforum.
net/, https://map.geoengineeringmonitor.org/
ggr/basreccs-baltic-searegion-network-for-ccs
Carbon
Drawdown
Initiative
Carbdown
GmbH
2020 Registered in
Fürth,
Germany
BECCS,
CCUS
(synfuels)
DAC,
Enhanced
weathering
The corporation aims to ensure
that projects in the following
geoengineering fields are
(further) developed: DAC,
Enhanced weathering with
olivine or serpentine, BECCS,
and CO2
-based synfuels. To
achieve these goals, the company
grants financial support to
geoengineering companies. In
addition, the corporation is
involved in public and political
work, e.g., as a founding member
of the Negative Emissions
Platform.
Founded by
Dirk Paessler
and directed in
cooperation with
Ralf Steffens.
Information on
the funding is not
available.
https://www.carbon-drawdown.de/
home-en, https://map.
geoengineeringmonitor.
org/other/carbon-drawdown-initiative-carbdown-gmbh
Carbon
Removal
Advocacy
Europe
2020/21 Based
in UK
BECCS, DAC The group aims to “advocate
for policy change to provide
critical research and deployment
incentives to scale up carbon
removal; coordinate among
funders, ENGOs, industry, and
government to build a thriving
European CDR ecosystem;
engage with the public and
community leaders to explore
the benefits and potential
risks of CDR and enable wellinformed decision making”. The
organisation “already raised
over £ 2,700,000 in funding
commitments and built a network
of partners and allies across
Europe.”
Funding &
expert partners:
Carbon180,
Quadrature
Climate
Foundation,
Climate
Pathfinders
Foundation,
Grantham
Environmental
Trust, Oxford
NetZero, Oxford
University.
https://cdradvocacy.
org/?utm_medium=email&_
hsmi=121470622&_
hsenc=p2ANqtz-QiFOF_PrIz9VxpQtcRXGVd-wSAXpu8_zweSxYslIspPYG-R982IxGbr0PyRY28gpN6OU3tIWCD9BSK2xsL4XcfnvZhg&utm_content=121471195&utm
source=hs_email
Geoengineering in the European Union 34/39
Lobby
group
Founded
in
Head
office
Advocates
for the
following GE
technologies
Goals Members/
funding Further information
CCUS
Projects
Network
Formed as
“European
CCS
Demonstration Project
Network”
in 2009;
renamed in
2018.
Not available
CCS, CCUS The network aims to support industrial projects
related to CCS and CCUS,
e.g., by sharing information
and learning from each
other. The networks secretariat “works closely with
the European Commission
and the Network’s Steering
Committee to ensure that
members’ needs and interests are provided for while
supporting the EU’s climate
action ambitions”.
The European Union
has provided financial
support to the network
through an FP7 project and appears to
continue its financial
support. In the early
years, the network was
managed by the Australian-based Global
CCS Institute. Today
the network is managed by its members,
which include SINTEF,
TNO, Gassnova, Tata
Steel, Drax, Port of
Rotterdam, CarbFix,
Leilac,… (https://www.
ccusnetwork.eu/network-members)
https://www.ccusnetwork.eu/about-network, FP7-project:
https://cordis.
europa.eu/project/
id/296013, https://
map.geoengineeringmonitor.org/other/
ccus-projects-network
CCUS –
UK Action
Plan &
CCUS
Advisory
Group
Since 2018,
advisory
group since
2019.
UK
ministry
for
Energy
and Clean
Growth
CCUS The UK Ministry for
Energy and Clean Growth
launched the “UK Action
Plan” for CCUS. In 2019,
the Ministry announced
the formation of a CCUS
Advisory Group, to help
deliver the CCUS action
plan. The Group consists of
experts in industry, finance,
and policy and includes
representatives from Shell,
BP, Tata Steel, Drax, and
National Grid.
The CCUS Advisory
Group received £ 1 M
of funding from the
UK Government and
industry.
https://www.gov.
uk/government/
publications/the-ukcarbon-capture-usage-and-storage-ccusdeployment-pathway-an-action-plan,
https://map.geoengineeringmonitor.org/
other/ccus-uk-actionplan
Centre for
Climate
Repair at
Cambridge
(CCRC)
Launched in
2019
Cambridge
University, UK
DAC, Ocean
fertilization,
Marine cloud
brightening,
Enhanced
freezing
The CCRC states the following goals: to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions,
remove greenhouse gases
from the atmosphere and
restore broken climate
systems. In order to reach
these goals, the centre
looks into geoengineering
technologies such as DAC,
Ocean fertilization, Marine
cloud brightening or Enhanced freezing. In June
2021, the CCRC founded
the Climate Crisis Advisory
Group (CCAG). The CCAG
aims to advice the public,
governments and financial
institutions.
Launched by Cambridge University.
£ 2.1 million gift
from Jamie Arnell in
May 2021.
https://www.climaterepair.eng.cam.
ac.uk/, https://map.
geoengineeringmonitor.org/other/centrefor-climate-repair-atcambridge-(ccrc)
Geoengineering in the European Union 35/39
Lobby
group
Founded
in
Head
office
Advocates
for the
following GE
technologies
Goals Members/
funding
Further
information
Coalition
for
Negative
Emissions
2020 Based in
the UK
BECCS,
Biochar,
DACCS,
Enhanced
weathering
“The Coalition for
Negative Emissions
has the expertise,
experience and skill
to deliver negative
emissions on a global
scale. We are calling
on those that can
support us to do so.”
Drax, Velocys, Carbon
Engineering, Carbon Removal
Centre, CBI, Carbon Capture
and Storage Association,
Climeworks, Energy U.K.,
Heathrow, International
Airlines Group, U.K. National
Farmers Union,…(https://
coalitionfornegativeemissions.
org/who-we-are/)
https://coalitionfornegativeemissions.
org/who-we-are/,
http://biomassmagazine.com/
articles/17440/
drax-velocys-help-launch-coalition-for-negative-emissions
CO2
GeoNet EUfunded
project:
2004.
Association:
2008.
Project:
Natural
Environment
Research
Council,
UK. Today,
the association is
based in
Orléans
Cedex,
France.
CCS, geological storage
of CO2
“CO2
GeoNet is the
European scientific
body on CO2
geological
storage.” Among the
ambitions: “Be the
preferred source of
impartial scientific and
technical information
and advice for the
European Union,
industry, regulators,
the general public
and other CCS
stakeholders”.
The association started as a
pan-European FP6 research
initiative, funded with € 6
million (total budget: €9.18
million). The association
currently comprises 27
research institutes from 21
European countries, among
them ETH Zürich, SINTEF,
TNO, Helmholtz Centre
Potsdam, Imperial College
London, IFPEN,…
(http://www.co2geonet.com/
about-us/)
http://www.co2geonet.com/aboutus/, https://map.geoengineeringmonitor.
org/other/co2geonet-network
ECCSELRICO
network
2015 Established by
the EU,
registered
in Norway,
at the
Norwegian
University
of Science
and Technology
(NTNU),
Trondheim,
Norway.
CCS, CCUS ECCSEL “is the
European Research
Infrastructure for CO2
Capture, Utilisation,
Transport and Storage
(CCUS). Our vision
is to enable low to
zero CO2
emissions
from industry and
power generation
to combat climate
change. Our aim is
to enhance European
science, technology
development,
innovation and
education in the field
of CCUS.” (ECCEL
= European Carbon
Dioxide Capture and
Storage Laboratory
Infrastructure, ERIC
= European Research
Infrastructure
Consortium)
Established with EU funding
(€3.25 million, FP8-H2020).
Five member countries:
France, Norway, Italy, the
Netherlands, UK.
Among the members: TNO,
IFPEN, CNRS, EDF, TOTAL,
SINTEF. Members: https://
www.eccsel.org/about-eccsel/
eccsel-highlights/
https://www.eccsel.
org/, https://map.
geoengineeringmonitor.org/other/
eccsel-rico-network
Geoengineering in the European Union 36/39
Lobby
group
Founded
in
Head
office
Advocates
for the
following GE
technologies
Goals Members/
funding
Further
information
Eurogas ~30
years old
Brussels,
Belgium
CCS,
low-carbon
gas
“Eurogas engages
actively with its stakeholders to discuss and
develop EU policy and
legislation related to
energy. To this end
the member companies and associations
join forces in expert
committees and task
forces to bring strong
arguments and constructive proposals to
the table.” The organisation is lobbying for
“decarbonised gas and
CCS technologies”.
Among the members: EON,
ENI, Equinor, Shell, Uniper,…
(https://eurogas.org/about-eurogas/our-members/)
https://eurogas.org/
European
Biochar
Industry
Consortium
(EBI)
2019 Freiburg
im
Breisgau,
Germany
Biochar The organisation aims
to promote the use of
biochar in Europe,
to employ biochar to
fight climate change,
and “support/ initiate
adaptation of legal
regulations regarding
production and usage
of biochar”.
Member organisations, please
see: https://www.biochar-industry.com/about/
https://www.biochar-industry.com/
about/, https://map.
geoengineeringmonitor.org/ggr/european-biochar-industry-consortium-(ebi)
European
Clean
Hydrogen
Alliance
(ECH2A)
March
2020
Not
available
Low-carbon
hydrogen,
based on CCS
and pyrolysis
(biochar)
“The European Clean
Hydrogen Alliance
aims at an ambitious
deployment of hydrogen technologies by
2030, bringing together renewable and
low-carbon hydrogen
production, demand
in industry, mobility
and other sectors, and
hydrogen transmission
and distribution. With
the alliance, the EU
wants to build its global leadership in this
domain, to support the
EU’s commitment to
reach carbon neutrality
by 2050.”
Initiated by the European
Union, the European Clean
Hydrogen Alliance brings
together industry, national
and local public authorities,
civil society and other stakeholders. Please see: https://
ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/46392, among the
members are: ArcelorMittal,
Alstom, BP Europa, RWE,
Schlumberger, Shell, Siemens,
SINTEF, Uniper, Vattenfall.
https://www.ech2a.
eu/, https://ec.europa.eu/growth/
industry/policy/
european-clean-hydrogen-alliance_en,
https://ec.europa.
eu/docsroom/documents/46392
European
Zero
Emissions
Technology
&
Innovation
Platform
Not
available
Brussels,
Belgium
CCS, CCUS “ZEP is the technical
adviser to the EU
Commission on the
deployment of CCS
and CCU”
Among the members: BP, ENI,
Equinor, ExxonMobil, Port of
Rotterdam, Shell, SINTEF,
Northern Lights, TNO, Total,
Bellona Foundation (https://zeroemissionsplatform.eu/aboutzep/members/)
https://zeroemissionsplatform.
eu/about-zep/
zep-structure/
Geoengineering in the European Union 37/39
Lobby
group
Founded
in
Head
office
Advocates
for the
following GE
technologies
Goals Members/
funding
Further
information
GIS-Gas Infrastructure
Europe
Not
available
Brussels,
Belgium
“Low carbon
hydrogen”
with CCS
Among the objectives:
“development of the
hydrogen economy
with the existing gas
infrastructure and via
the development of
innovative project”,
“low-carbon gases”.
“GIE closely collaborates with many
stakeholders in the
community to ensure
a responsible and sustainable future for the
European infrastructure industry, and to
increase our positive
contributions.”
“67 member companies from
27 countries, encompassing
operators of gas infrastructures across Europe” https://
www.gie.eu/dna/members/
https://www.gie.eu/
GasNaturally
Not
available
Not
available
“Low carbon
hydrogen”
with CCS
GasNaturally is a
partnership of eight
associations from
across the whole
gas value chain. The
organisation advocates
for “clean hydrogen
and CCS for Europe”
and for large-scale
deployment of CCS in
Europe.
Members: Eurogas, European
Gas Research Group, Gas
Infrastructure Europe (GIE),
International Association of
Oil and Gas Producers
(IOGP),International Gas
Union (IGU), Liquid Gas
Europe, Marcogaz, NGVA
Europe
https://gasnaturally.
eu/about-gas/cleanhydrogen-and-ccsfor-europe/
Hydrogen
Council
2017 Brussels,
Belgium
“Low carbon
hydrogen”
with CCS
Aims to supply
low-carbon hydrogen
at scale. According to
the Hydrogen Council
“low-carbon hydrogen
supply at scale is economically and environmentally feasible”.
Lobbying platform with ~100
industry members, among
them AirLiquide, ALSTOM,
BP, Equinor, Linde, Microsoft,
Shell, Siemens, Total,
ThyssenKrupp, Uniper,…
https://hydrogencouncil.com/en/
Hydrogen
Europe
Since
2014,
possibly
longer
Brussels,
Belgium
“Low carbon
hydrogen”
with CCS
Hydrogen Europe
presents the interests
of “the industry and
national association
members covering the
entire hydrogen value
chain.” At the same
time, it partners with
the European Commission as a research
body, in the European
Joint Undertaking on
Hydrogen. Hydrogen
Europe members
contributed to the
research activities.
Lobbying platform with nearly
200 industry members.
https://www.hydrogeneurope.eu/
Geoengineering in the European Union 38/39
Lobby
group
Founded
in
Head
office
Advocates
for the
following GE
technologies
Goals Members/
funding
Further
information
Negative
Emissions
Platform
(NEP)
2020 Registered
in
Brussels,
as a
Belgian
company
BECCS,
Biochar,
CCUS (fuels,
chemicals,
materials),
DAC/DACCS,
Enhanced
weathering
on land and
in the oceans
NEP aims to draw
the attention of policy
makers and the public
to the aforementioned
geoengineering approaches
and calls for further
research to investigate the
potential, costs and side
effects of the
approaches as well as
(financial) incentives
for so-called “negative
emissions”.
Among the members:
Climeworks, Carbon
Drawdown Initiative,
Carbon Engineering,
Carbyon, Global
Thermostat, Fieldcode, Air
Capture, CarbonFuture,
Drax, Carbfix, Project
Vesta, European Biochar
Industry, ClimatePartners,
Stockholm exergi, 44.01,
Repair CO2
capture,…
https://www.negative-emissions.org/,
https://map.geoengineeringmonitor.org/
other/negative-emissions-platform
OHB’s geoengineering
network
2021 OHB SE,
Bremen,
Germany
“Space-based
geoengineering”
“OHB System AG, a
subsidiary of the German
space and technology
group OHB SE, has joined
forces with eight research
institutes from five different countries to establish
a competence network
on the subject of spacebased geoengineering.”
“The research areas that
are covered range from
aerospace engineering,
atmospheric research and
climate modelling to communication sciences and
ethics. In addition to building up sound knowledge on
climate change and geoengineering, the objectives of
the consortium also include
the exchange and open discussion with other experts,
political decision-makers
and the general public.”
“Participating institutions
include the University
of Bremen (Center of
Applied Space Technology
and Microgravity
(ZARM) and Institute for
Theoretical Philosophy),
the Alfred Wegener
Institute Bremerhaven
(Paleoclimate Dynamics),
Cranfield University
(Astrodynamics and
Mission Design), TU Delft,
the University of Patras
(Applied Mechanics
Laboratory), NHL
Stenden (Communications
and Multimedia Design),
the University of Utrecht
(Institute of Marine and
Atmospheric Research)
and the University of
Applied Sciences Wiener
Neustadt (Aerospace
Engineering).”
https://www.ohb.
de/en/news/2021/
ohb-establishes-geoengineering-network
Scottish
Carbon
Capture
& Storage
(SCCS)
partnership
2005 Edinburgh,
UK
CCS, CCUS “We carry out strategic
and innovative research
across the full CCS
chain, including CO2
capture engineering,
transportation, storage,
utilisation and impact
analyses. Our researchers
are engaged in economic,
legal and regulatory
studies and consultation
work.” “Enhancement
and promotion of
SCCS research and
development capacity
and knowledge exchange
to a global audience of
researchers, industry and
governments.”
Funded by the Scottish
Funding Council (SFC),
the European Regional Development Fund
(ERDF), Scottish Government. Some members
of the advisory board are
affiliated with TOTAL UK
and Shell.
https://sccs.org.uk/,
https://map.geoengineeringmonitor.org/
other/scottish-carbon-capture-storage-(sccs)
Imprint
Editor: Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, Rue du Luxembourg 47-51,
BE-1050 Brussels
Lisa Tostado, Head of International Climate, Trade and Agricultural Policy Programme
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, Brussels
E Lisa.Tostado@eu.boell.org
Martin Keim, Head of the European Energy Transition Programme
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union, Brussels
E Martin.Keim@eu.boell.org
Place of publication: https://eu.boell.org/
Release date: November 2021
Layout: Micheline Gutman, Muriel sprl
Cover picture: © Malte Reimold – pixabay.com
License: Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0),
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect
the views of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung.
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