On\u00a0Thursday\u00a028 May, the\u00a0seventh\u00a0edition of the\u00a0Carbon Storage Dialogues took place\u00a0at\u00a0the former subtropical swimming paradise Tropicana in Rotterdam. The theme:\u00a0Progress through\u00a0Persistence. Only by persevering can CO2\u00a0storage projects\u00a0truly\u00a0be realised.\u00a0What is\u00a0needed\u00a0are\u00a0frontrunners\u00a0willing to\u00a0do more than\u00a0merely\u00a0dip their toes\u00a0in the\u00a0water,\u00a0said\u00a0EBN\u2019s\u00a0CCS\u00a0Director Joost Hooghiem,\u00a0who opened the day for\u00a0around\u00a0300 professionals,\u00a0drawing\u00a0a link\u00a0with the venue. “We\u00a0must\u00a0move forward\u00a0\u2013\u00a0it doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does have to be together.”<\/p>\n
A\u00a0setting\u00a0such as\u00a0a former swimming pool\u00a0\u2013\u00a0now the circular hub BlueCity\u00a0\u2013 where the temperature under the glass roof\u00a0rose\u00a0high\u00a0due to the bright May sun, lends itself perfectly to all kinds of comparisons with the challenges facing the CCS sector.\u00a0One\u00a0comparison\u00a0is with\u00a0the Porthos project, where a former gas production platform has been successfully converted\u00a0to enable\u00a0CO<\/span>2\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0be injected into\u00a0the\u00a0depleted gas field.\u00a0Much\u00a0like the\u00a0entirely new\u00a0purpose\u00a0given\u00a0to\u00a0the swimming pool. This is only possible by looking\u00a0through\u00a0a\u00a0different\u00a0lens. And by persistently believing in the idea.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Different climate impact, different valuation<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That CO<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a0is a complex gas,\u00a0is\u00a0something\u00a0Joseph Stemmler of\u00a0the\u00a0University\u00a0of\u00a0Oxford\u00a0readily acknowledges. In a search for the value of CO<\/span>2<\/span>, the researcher concludes that CO<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a0can have\u00a0greater\u00a0or lesser\u00a0climate\u00a0impact depending on where it comes from and how it is used or stored. He therefore\u00a0advocates\u00a0a differentiated CO<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a0market\u00a0in which that difference in impact is properly taken into account.\u00a0According to Stemmler, particular attention should be paid to CCU, as the value of utilising CO\u2082 is more difficult to determine and therefore risks being undervalued.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Porthos is first of a kind, Aramis in its wake<\/span><\/b> In the wake of Porthos, an investment decision will soon be made for Aramis,\u00a0anticipated\u00a0in 2027. B<\/span>ram Herfkens\u00a0is Manager Asset Management & JV Manager for Aramis at EBN<\/span>.\u00a0Drawing on lessons learned\u00a0from\u00a0Porthos, he says he first\u00a0wants to take\u00a0a so-called ‘conditional’ investment decision, ahead\u00a0of the actual one. “In order to\u00a0build confidence\u00a0among all parties involved and to\u00a0eliminate potential\u00a0risks and bottlenecks\u00a0ahead of their FID,” he explains.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Developing a single value chain\u00a0together<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The complexity of both Porthos and, to an even\u00a0greater\u00a0degree, Aramis\u00a0lies in\u00a0the number of different partners\u00a0involved in\u00a0the project. Groot is realistic: “Although\u00a0‘first of a kind’, the individual techniques are not necessarily new. It is\u00a0merging them\u00a0into a completely new value chain that makes these\u00a0types\u00a0of projects\u00a0so\u00a0challenging.” For Porthos,\u00a0a\u00a0partnership comprising\u00a0four core partners,\u00a0this\u00a0remains fairly manageable. Aramis\u00a0on the other hand, involves a much larger number of\u00a0partners. Tom Eikmans of Air Liquide thinks it is time to\u00a0set aside some\u00a0of the mutual competition and to approach the creation of this new value chain as a\u00a0shared endeavour.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The demand for new technologies<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Various questions arise\u00a0from the audience.\u00a0One is\u00a0whether new technologies\u00a0in the field of CO<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a0capture and\u00a0storage are needed.\u00a0Although the\u00a0initial response is\u00a0cautious,\u00a0– the\u00a0number\u00a0of\u00a0inputs\u00a0and participants is\u00a0already\u00a0challenging enough\u00a0\u2013 a number\u00a0of promising\u00a0initiatives are pitched later in the afternoon that shed new light on the\u00a0subject.\u00a0Siemens\u00a0Energy, for instance,\u00a0has decarbonisation technologies\u00a0and installations that are\u00a0highly suited to\u00a0industry in the\u00a0port of\u00a0Rotterdam area. And SCW Systems uses the fourth phase of water to convert\u00a0residual\u00a0streams into usable energy,\u00a0thereby\u00a0helping industry\u00a0to\u00a0decarbonise. Their\u00a0large installation in Alkmaar\u00a0is attracting considerable\u00a0interest.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Alongside\u00a0the\u00a0large\u00a0and well-known projects in which public organisations such as EBN and Gasunie participate,\u00a0an increasing number of\u00a0private companies are also\u00a0making their presence felt\u00a0in the field of CO<\/span>2\u00a0<\/span>storage. Another question from the audience is whether there will be sufficient CO<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a0volume and\u00a0enough\u00a0emitters\u00a0should all\u00a0these private projects come to fruition. The conclusion\u00a0from\u00a0Eikmans, Groot and Herfkens is that all\u00a0available\u00a0capacity\u00a0will be\u00a0needed.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Seeking certainty<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At present,\u00a0the\u00a0market dynamics are characterised by\u00a0a degree of\u00a0caution. Too many swimmers are\u00a0eager\u00a0to\u00a0dive\u00a0into the deep end, but for\u00a0now\u00a0stand on\u00a0the\u00a0poolside watching one another\u00a0\u2013 and in particular watching\u00a0for\u00a0regulatory frameworks\u00a0that offer the certainty to build\u00a0upon.\u00a0Uniper (energy), AEB (waste-to-energy) and Lhoist (lime producer) are companies with ambitions to further reduce\u00a0CO<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a0emissions; given the\u00a0origin of their CO<\/span>2<\/span>, this results in\u00a0Carbon Dioxide Removal\u00a0(CDR).\u00a0Uniper and Lhoist\u00a0are\u00a0switching\u00a0the fuel\u00a0for\u00a0their production processes from fossil to biofuels.\u00a0According to Dyonne Rietveld of Uniper Benelux,\u00a0what is crucial\u00a0to actually\u00a0investing in projects is the\u00a0investment decision that\u00a0must\u00a0be\u00a0taken\u00a0for Aramis. The development of incentive schemes for industry is not\u00a0progressing as quickly as necessary.\u00a0Timing\u00a0is\u00a0critical.\u00a0Fortunately, Rietveld\u00a0notes\u00a0that the importance of industry in the Netherlands is\u00a0now being\u00a0more\u00a0explicitly recognised\u00a0by the national government.\u00a0Micha Hes of\u00a0AEB\u00a0calls otut: “We are in the starting blocks, give us\u00a0regulatory\u00a0certainty and, where\u00a0needed, tailor-made solutions.”\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A thorny issue\u00a0remains the\u00a0absence\u00a0of\u00a0a uniform\u00a0reward system for\u00a0carbon removal, also known as\u00a0negative emissions. The ETS system is regulated, which\u00a0provides market\u00a0certainty. The trading system for\u00a0carbon removal\u00a0is still voluntary and therefore volatile. “But\u00a0it is\u00a0important for the future, certainly for the next ten to fifteen years,” says Rietveld.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Platform\u00a0Carbon Management\u00a0NL<\/span><\/b> Helping hand<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Michel\u00a0Heijdra,\u00a0<\/span>Vice Minister\u00a0of Climate\u00a0Policy\u00a0and\u00a0Green Growth,\u00a0finds\u00a0<\/span>himself, at the close of the\u00a0Carbon Storage Dialogues, transported\u00a0back to his childhood at\u00a0this swimming pool\u00a0\u2013 in his\u00a0the most\u00a0wonderful\u00a0place to be in the eighties and nineties. His first intention to visit the swimming pool\u00a0was\u00a0cut short by unforeseen circumstances. His parallel with the CO<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a0storage sector: always be prepared for setbacks and\u00a0for\u00a0what happens in your immediate\u00a0surroundings.\u00a0<\/span>When Heijdra visited Tropicana a few months later, he experienced the\u00a0tremendous force at the bottom of the water slide. The plunge underwater\u00a0was so\u00a0deep\u00a0that a helping hand\u00a0was always needed\u00a0to pull you out of the turbulent water.\u00a0<\/span>Another link: it is also important to lend each other a helping hand when developing a CCS market.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Rewarding carbon removal is crucial<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The government’s position is that the capture, transport and storage of CO\u2082 are crucial to decarbonising industry. Secondly, he is resolute on one of the key priorities in the Dutch contribution to the revision of the ETS: carbon removal must be given a place within it. “Please, give real value to carbon removal. That is crucial for scaling up.” Globally, the target for carbon removal is 7 to 9 Gt by 2050, compared with the current level of 2 Gt. More storage capacity is needed \u2014 forests alone will not suffice. And yet Heijdra acknowledges that taking an investment decision remains challenging: parties are actively seeking their position in the game. He explicitly calls on emitters to clearly communicate what is needed to move one another towards an investment decision \u2014 and conversely calls on partners in the Aramis and Porthos consortia to listen carefully to the wishes and needs of the market. He offers all partners a realistic reminder: “We all want stable policy, but the world is not stable, so we must be able to adapt where necessary. And we want to hear from industry where adaptation is needed.”<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Support from Brussels and from the King<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The helping hand is there \u2014 not least through the SDE++ scheme, which now also supports technologies for CO\u2082 capture, storage, and CCU. Support is also coming from Brussels, as MEP Jeannette Baljeu reported via video link. She outlined the shifting tone of recent years: from being seen as too expensive and too complex, to the first real projects actually being realised. The Netherlands is showing itself to be a frontrunner. Baljeu looks forward to the CO\u2082 markets and infrastructure package that the European Commission will present later this year. “For the first time, CO\u2082 transport and storage will have its own European framework \u2014 not tucked away within other legislation, but with recognition as a market in its own right.” She also mentioned the Industrial Decarbonisation Bank as an important instrument for providing greater certainty to industry when investing in CCS.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n And there is yet another helping hand. Although Michel Heijdra modestly credits himself with some influence in further stimulating the CCS market, he believes there is a more influential ambassador for the CO\u2082 transport and storage sector: our King. “Our King was personally present in North Rhine-Westphalia for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Germany and the Netherlands. And shortly he will receive the German Federal President for a visit on which CCS also features on the agenda. I am proud that we in the Netherlands have a King who is so committed to energy matters.”<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In closing<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At\u00a0the end of\u00a0a\u00a0warm\u00a0afternoon\u00a0in the former Rotterdam swimming paradise, a cold drink, a fresh breeze,\u00a0and a distant view\u00a0across\u00a0the Maas towards the port area\u00a0\u2014\u00a0where progress in the field is\u00a0clearly\u00a0visible\u00a0\u2014 beckon from the terrace outside.\u00a0It was a day\u00a0rich in concrete examples of progress, reflected EBN CCS Director Joost Hooghiem in his closing summary.\u00a0Tomorrow we\u00a0carry on \u2014 not with great\u00a0breakthroughs or\u00a0in\u00a0seven-league boots, but steadily and\u00a0persistently moving\u00a0forward\u00a0with courage. He emphasised that everyone in the room has a role to play, and held up a mirror to the audience: how will they themselves contribute to the theme of Progress through Persistence next week?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On\u00a0Thursday\u00a028 May, the\u00a0seventh\u00a0edition of the\u00a0Carbon Storage Dialogues took place\u00a0at\u00a0the former subtropical swimming paradise Tropicana in Rotterdam. The theme:\u00a0Progress through\u00a0Persistence. Only by persevering can CO2\u00a0storage projects\u00a0truly\u00a0be realised.\u00a0What is\u00a0needed\u00a0are\u00a0frontrunners\u00a0willing to\u00a0do more than\u00a0merely\u00a0dip their toes\u00a0in the\u00a0water,\u00a0said\u00a0EBN\u2019s\u00a0CCS\u00a0Director Joost Hooghiem,\u00a0who opened the day for\u00a0around\u00a0300 professionals,\u00a0drawing\u00a0a link\u00a0with the venue. “We\u00a0must\u00a0move forward\u00a0\u2013\u00a0it doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does have to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":21056,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nGemmeke Groot is managing director of Porthos, to date the first<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>CO<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a0transport and storage project of scale in the EU. What does Groot\u00a0consider\u00a0the most important factor in getting the project\u00a0over\u00a0the\u00a0line?\u00a0Is it the technology, the team, the business case or the regulatory framework?\u00a0According to\u00a0Groot,\u00a0it is\u00a0everything, and\u00a0all\u00a0at\u00a0once. It was recently announced that the first injection of CO<\/span>2<\/span>\u00a0will not take place at the end of this year but\u00a0has been pushed back by\u00a0a year. There are still\u00a0design\u00a0challenges\u00a0compounded\u00a0by\u00a0other uncertainties. “It is a ‘first of a kind’ project. Reliability and safety\u00a0come first. That is why a\u00a0revised schedule was necessary.”\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\nTo join forces for the development of complex value chains for CO<\/span>2\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>utilisation,\u00a0storage and\u00a0removal\u00a0projects,\u00a0t<\/span>he Taskforce Negative Emissions and the CCU Alliance are initiating\u00a0a new\u00a0collaboration\u00a0that will be\u00a0officially launched the following\u00a0day: Platform\u00a0Carbon Management\u00a0NL.\u00a0Yolande Verbeek, COO of EBN and Chair of the platform:<\/span>\u00a0“This platform\u00a0must\u00a0bring together the individual initiatives to generate more knowledge and put the different pieces of the puzzle together.”<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n