Fact sheet - ZEP

A fact sheet about the European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuelled Power Plants (ZEP) is given below. You can also download this fact sheet as a pdf file.

Introduction

The European Technology Platform on Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants – ZEP – is a project gathering more than 200 experts on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The aim of ZEP is to establish gas- and coal power plants with no CO₂ emissions.

ZEP was commenced by the European Commission in 2005 and is one of EUs technology platforms. There are approximately 30 such platforms, consisting of experts within a large range of special fields. ZEP is between 2005 and 2012 laying down the foundation for EU CCS policies and priorities in the 7^th Framework Programme for research and technological development (7FP). ZEP will also provide input to EU institutions and EU countries on measures to promote CCS. Thus, the ZEP is of significant importance for the EU strategy of reducing CO₂ emissions.

ZEP’s work is a result of a wide reaching collaboration between several different actors, within and outside the platform. Examples include energy suppliers, technology providers, research institutions, environmental Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and governments/public authorities. Together, these actors are working to establish strategies on how to implement near zero CO₂ emission gas and coal power plants.

Vision and strategy

The ZEP vision is to enable European fossil fuel power plants to have zero CO₂ emissions by 2020.  

A portfolio of CCS solutions shall be identified; ZEP will also stimulate the development, demonstration and implementation of these solutions. Both existing and new emissions will be included.  

In addition to solutions on CO₂ capture from fossil fuel based power production, other solutions for industrial sources and for emissions linked to use of biomass and hydrogen production should be included.

Actions and measures suggested will be based on estimates concerning time, financials, environmental factors, as well as public acceptance and necessary economical and legal frameworks.

The CCS potential in the EU is 25 Giga ton captured by 2050. This would entail the introduction of CCS technologies not only in power production plants, but also within the process industry. In effect, more than half of EU CO2-emissions can be removed through the use of CCS.

Organisational structure

The ZEP organisational structure is shown in the figure below. The ZEP managing body is the Advisory Council (AC). The AC consists of 35 top managers and specialists from the private sector, research institutions and environmental NGOs from EU countries and Norway. Frederic Hauge, the founder of the Bellona Foundation, is Vice President of the AC.

Figure 1. Organisational structure of ZEP July 2007

A Government Group (GG) ensures a continuous dialog between the AC and EU Member States governments. It is also the responsibility of GG to make sure political recommendations from the ZEP are followed up in the EU countries. The GG has representatives from governments (EU and Norway). The GG is chaired by the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy. Norway is also represented in the GG by the Council for Research of Norway.

To reach the ZEP target of zero emission fossil fuel power plants by 2020, significant amount of knowledge on the different technologies, market mechanisms and infrastructure needs to be generated. To increase knowledge levels, several Taskforces have been established to assist the AC. All communication between these groups and the AC is coordinated by a separate Coordination Group, where Bellona is represented by Paal Frisvold from Bellona Europa.

The ZEP Taskforces

The ZEP Taskforces have the following responsibilities:

• The Taskforce on Policy and Regulations is working towards the EC and EU countries, suggesting the necessary framework needed to ensure broad implementation of CCS projects.
• The Taskforce on Demonstration and Implementation is working to promote the commencement of 10-12 demonstration plants by 2015. The group defines the selection criteria for these projects and technologies, in addition to making financial evaluations.
• The Taskforce on Technology is working to speed up technological development, to ensure commercial availability of CCS technologies by 2020, and to define research gaps.
• The Taskforce on Public Communication is working to promote CCS general acceptance, which is a prerequisite for the successful implementation of CCS. Preparation of an information campaign is one of the main tasks.

Bellona is represented in all four taskforces: Paal Frisvold is one of three co-leads in the Policy and Regulations Taskforce; Anne Karin Sæther and Svend Søyland are members of the Public communication Taskforce; Frederic Hauge is, in addition to the position as the Vice President of AC, also a member of the Taskforce on Demonstration and Implementation. Lastly, Aage Stangeland is our representative in the Taskforce on Technology.

The Taskforce structure is dynamic; meaning they are re-organised if needed to ensure a continuous optimal structure for the ZEP tasks. The structure was last re-organised in March 2007.

Achievements

During its first phase, ZEPs main task was to draw up recommendations on research and framework necessary to achieve zero emission fossil fuel plants in Europe. This target was achieved following the publication of two documents at ZEP general assembly in September 2006; the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) and Strategic Deployment Document (SDD).

The conclusions from the SRA and the SDD include descriptions of research gaps, frameworks that should be established and financial incentives necessary to promote the establishment of zero emission fossil fuel power plants by 2020. In addition, the documents conclude that 10-12 full scale CCS demonstration plants should be established. Both documents have been summarized in the publication Strategic Overview, and can be downloaded from the ZEP homepage.

In January 2007, the 7th Framework Programme for research and technological development (7FP) was launched by the EU. The research on CCS in the 7FP is based on SRA and SDD recommendations.

In November 2008 ZEP published its recommendation for how EU should proceed to establish 10 to 12 CCS demonstration projects by 2015. The brochure called the EU Demonstration Programme for CO₂ Capture and Storage (CCS) defines criteria for how to select the demonstration projects and it analyses funding options.

Finally, the political recommendations from ZEP have, to a large extent, made the basis for the EC Energy and Climate package that was endorsed by the European Parliament December 2009.

The main focus of ZEP in 2009 will be to ensure the financing and building of the 10 to 12 CCS Demonstration projects.

Participants

The Norwegian representatives in ZEP are Statoil, the Norwegian University of Technology and Science (NTNU), the Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF), and the Bellona Foundation.

The following actors are represented in the Advisory Council; Air Liquide, Alstom, Ansaldo Energia, Austrian Energy & Environment, Bellona, BP, British Geological Survey, CEZ, CIRCE, Central mining Institute, DONG Energy Power, Doosan Babcock, Dutch National Taskforce on CCS, E3G, EDF, Endesa, ENEL, E.ON, Foster Wheeler, GE Energy, Hamburg University of Technology, Institute for Solid Fuels Technology & Applications, Institut français du pétrole, Morgan Stanley, RAG, RWE Power, Schlumberger, Shell, Siemens, SINTEF, StatoilHydro, Total, Union Fenosa, Vattenfall, and WWF.

In addition to the above mentioned, several other companies, organisations and institutions are represented in the four taskforces.

The Shadow group

Bellona has established a shadow group to ensure flow of information to Norwegian actors and to promote use of Norwegian competence on CCS. This is an open forum, designed for Norwegian corporates and political authorities. Information is continuously exchanged through seminars, meetings and emails, which allow various stakeholders to give inputs on the current ZEP projects and agenda.

Links

ZEP homepage: http://www.zero-emissionplatform.eu/website/index.html

EU Demonstration Programme for CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS) - ZEP's proposal: http://www.zero-emissionplatform.eu/website/docs/ETP%20ZEP/EU%20Demonstration%20Programme%20for%20CCS%20-%20ZEP%27s%20Proposal.pdf

The EU Energy and Climate package: http://www.bellona.org/articles/articles_2008/theEUclimate

Bellona CCS Web: http://www.bellona.org\ccs