MEP plans to rescue CCS

The proceeds from the sale of 600 EU emissions trading scheme allowances could be used to support carbon capture and storage (CCS), according to MEP Chris Davies

The recommendation comes from his new plan to revive the development of the technology in Europe.

Davies, the Liberal Democrat’s environment spokesperson in the European parliament and a regular columnist in the environmentalist, is also promoting a “polluter pays” system of certificates paid for by importers and producers of fossil fuels that would subsidise new CCS technologies as part of the price of oil, coal and gas.

Presenting his proposals to the parliament’s environment committee, Davies warned: “Without commercially viable CCS [governments] will back themselves into a corner that contains blackouts or runaway climate change.”

Europe will fail to deliver by 2015 the 12 demonstration projects envisaged by the European council in 2008, according to Davies, despite the creation of the NER300 funding mechanism. “Sadly, there is little to show for this initial enthusiasm,” he said.

Davies’ proposals came as the Norwegian government withdrew its support for the development of a full-scale CCS plant at Mongstad, the world’s largest testing facility.

It blamed the low price of carbon and the recession for reducing commercial interest in CCS.

“At both the national and international level, the development of [CCS] has taken longer, been more difficult and more costly than expected,” said minister Ola Borten Moe.