Four European utilities that have vacated their membership of the Zero Emission Platform (ZEP) have been accused of trying to take control of the European carbon capture and storage (CCS) debate.
In January RWE, EDF, Vattenfall and Gas Natural Fenosa wrote to ZEP, which advises the European Commission on CCS technologies, saying that the "necessary economic framework conditions in Europe" did not exist to make CCS commercially viable, according to a Reuters report.
But Bellona, an NGO and leading member of ZEP, said that the utilities’ move is "a simple attempt to take control of and undercut the European CCS debate".
It said that ZEP’s stance on capacity markets was the reason for the utilities’ decision. In a written statement to MPS, Bellona said: "ZEP has not wanted to call for capacity markets…. Hence the utilities have now formed their own Eurelectric-led CCS task force that will no doubt call for this."
ZEP said that it regretted the utilities’ decision to leave but maintains that it continues to be the lead advisor to the European Commission on CCS technologies. "We remain committed to furthering the development of this crucial climate mitigation technology and are confident in our ability to reinforce our membership with like-minded companies and organizations that share the same interests on CCS and the goals of the ZEP Technology Platform," said the organization.
ZEP was founded in 2005 as a coalition of European petroleum companies, equipment suppliers, scientists, academics and environmental NGOs working together to develop CCS as a key technology for combating climate change.
However the economics and commercial viability of CCS has not developed as hoped because of weak energy demand and a low carbon price in Europe.
In January Eurelectric said that it would establish a CCS task force to "act as the power industry’s voice on CCS towards policymakers … to ensure that this important technology can be commercialised".
Sian Crampsie
