New CCS Website Launched

New CCS Resource - www.zeroemissionsplatform.eu

12 October 2009

The European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants (ZEP) is a unique coalition of stakeholders - companies, scientists, academics and environmental NGOs - united in their support for CO₂ Capture and Storage (CCS) as a key technology for combating climate change, alongside renewables and greater energy efficiency.

ZEP has three main goals:

1. Enable CCS as a key technology for combating climate change
2. Make CCS commercially viable by 2020 via an EU-backed demonstration programme
3. Accelerate R&D into next-generation CCS technology and its wide deployment post-2020

Founded in 2005, ZEP is one of 35 European Technology Platforms initiated by the European Commission to bring together a range of stakeholders to guide the development and deployment of key technologies that will result in greater competitiveness, growth and sustainability in the EU - including CCS. ZEP's findings and recommendations are shared with the European Commission and fed into the EU decision-making process.

CCS Demonstration Programme

In November 2008, ZEP unveiled the first-ever proposal for an EU-wide CCS demonstration programme - a key step toward enabling the commercial viability of the technology by 2020 as requested by the EU heads of state and the G8. This roadmap was instrumental in aiding the EU to agree to co-fund such a demonstration programme in December 2008. With the intention to get up to 12 EU CCS demonstration plants up and running by 2015, the challenge is now to ensure the necessary conditions, regulations and funding are in place for industry to be able to begin building these demonstration projects by 2011.

One of ZEP's strategic goals is to raise the awareness of EU opinion leaders of the need for, and workings of, CCS. The lack of awareness and understanding of CCS amongst the general public is a serious concern. It is clear that without sufficient levels of understanding, CCS might never move beyond the demonstration phase.

New CCS Website

In February 2009, ZEP embarked on a project to launch a new public website which would seek to engage audiences and stakeholders on the many issues surrounding CCS. The idea was to create a platform where questions could be asked and answers provided, while showing visitors the breadth and depth of the CCS stakeholder community.

Foremost amongst the tools created for the website were three animations that sought to answer the key questions surrounding CCS:

1. Why do we need it? - The Hard Facts
2. How does it work? - Inside CCS
3. Can CO₂ be safely stored? - Safe Storage

After many hours of debate, ZEP's stakeholders agreed to the key messages and objective facts that formed the basis for the three animations, underlining the platform's desire to provide the information necessary for visitors to make up their own minds about the need for CCS.

Another key consideration was deviating from the more traditional "technical" communications approach that had marked much of the CCS communications material and content to date. Instead, it was the needs of the viewer that were to determine the output. Engagement, clarity and objectivity were key filters through which the three animations were passed before finally being delivered on July 31 2009 with the launch of ZEP's new public site: www.zeroemissionsplatform.eu

As with any website, this is very much a work in progress. With the fundamentals firmly in place, ZEP will be looking at other opportunities to further improve the site, add and update content and ensure that visitors are engaged in the debate about the portfolio of solutions we will need to tackle climate change.

The Hard Facts: Behind Carbon Capture & Storage

Video courtesy of Zero Emissions Platform

Safe Storage - Closing the Carbon Loop

Video courtesy of Zero Emissions Platform