A Europe-wide knowledge sharing network has received fresh funding from the European Commission to support and inspire major carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects in their efforts to deliver climate action.

The revitalised European CCUS Projects Network, which launches its new website today (www.ccusnetwork.eu), will connect industry partners involved in real-life CCUS projects, which have potential to deliver significant carbon emission reductions in Europe’s industrial regions.

The network, managed by a secretariat of pooled international expertise, will provide member projects with opportunities for sharing knowledge and best practice alongside guidance on how to increase public awareness and acceptance of CCUS technologies.

The secretariat will ultimately provide advice to the Commission on the most effective way to deliver a commercially viable and technologically sound CCUS network, which will help Europe’s member states meet climate targets enshrined in the Paris Agreement.

The project secretariat – which includes project lead Trinomics (Netherlands), Bellona Europa (Belgium), DECHEMA (Germany), Scottish Carbon Capture & Storage (UK), SINTEF (Norway) and TNO (Netherlands) – is keen to contact existing and emerging CCUS projects across Europe, which have significant climate mitigation potential and are close to being ready for operation.

Projects being considered as network members will have a focus on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and/or CO2 utilisation (CCU), and will need to demonstrate substantial overall CO2 emissions reduction in their lifecycle analysis as well as a commitment to building a European CCUS industry through knowledge sharing.

Hans Bolscher, project coordinator, Trinomics, said: “The knowledge-sharing component of the CCUS Projects Network is a crucial step towards promoting an environment in which stakeholders can work together and learn from each other, while identifying areas to address in the CCUS domain. It also presents an excellent opportunity to develop an approach to disseminate knowledge to the wider public. By increasing public acceptance of CCUS projects in the EU and beyond, confidence and trust can be drawn to such technologies.”

The revitalised network replaces the European CCS Demonstration Project Network, established by the Commission in 2009 to accelerate the deployment of safe, large-scale and commercially viable CCS projects.