While industry is feverishly searching for ways to become more sustainable by reducing CO\u2082 emissions, Pieter Tavenier, Director of Business Line CCS at Gasunie, sees one technology becoming increasingly prominent in the short term: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Gasunie is one of the shareholders in Porthos, alongside the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Energiebeheer Nederland (EBN). In his role as a steering committee member at Porthos \u2014 the first CCS project within the European Union \u2014 Tavenier sees how the Netherlands can become the heart of a cross-border CO\u2082 network.<\/p>\n
\u2018CCS is a crucial building block for an international infrastructure that accelerates the energy transition,\u2019 says Tavenier. \u2018Without large-scale CO\u2082 capture and storage, industry will simply not achieve its climate targets.\u2019<\/p>\n
A network that transcends national borders<\/strong> According to Tavenier, this scalability is essential. \u2018We are working on several initiatives at the same time: Porthos, Aramis, CO\u2082next, the Delta Rhine Corridor, the Delta Schelde CO\u2082nnection. Each project has its own dynamics, but together they form an international value chain that makes CCS accessible to a large part of north-western Europe.\u2019<\/p>\n The goal: an infrastructure that becomes as commonplace as the current natural gas network \u2014 but focused on emission reduction rather than energy supply.<\/p>\n Porthos: from idea to European milestone<\/strong> Trust as a prerequisite for success<\/strong> The Netherlands as a strategic hub<\/strong> \u2018We have the unique opportunity to connect industries from neighbouring countries to storage sites under the North Sea,\u2019 explains Tavenier. \u2018If we set up these connections properly, we can enable CCS on a large scale \u2014 and thus take an important step towards a climate-neutral industry.\u2019<\/p>\n The biggest hurdle: investment certainty<\/strong> CCS is a top priority<\/strong> While industry is feverishly searching for ways to become more sustainable by reducing CO\u2082 emissions, Pieter Tavenier, Director of Business Line CCS at Gasunie, sees one technology becoming increasingly prominent in the short term: Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Gasunie is one of the shareholders in Porthos, alongside the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Energiebeheer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":4511,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nGasunie is working on nothing less than a new pillar of the European energy infrastructure. The company is developing a CO\u2082 transport network that will connect industries in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium to empty gas fields under the North Sea \u2014 locations that are ideally suited for safe, permanent CO\u2082 storage.<\/p>\n
\nOf all these projects, Porthos clearly stands out. The construction of the Porthos system is expected to be operational this year, making it the first CCS project of this scale in the region. \u2018We at Gasunie are extremely proud of Porthos,\u2019 says Tavenier. \u2018It is not only a milestone for the Netherlands, but also for the entire European Union. It shows that large-scale CO\u2082 storage is technically, economically and organisationally feasible.\u2019 According to him, the involvement of parties such as EBN, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and operators in the North Sea illustrates how broad the support base has become.<\/p>\n
\nNevertheless, CCS is not a technology that can be implemented automatically. Behind the scenes, lengthy negotiations are required between governments, industries and infrastructure managers. According to him, this cooperation is perhaps just as important as the technology itself. \u2018Projects of this magnitude require trust. Parties must be prepared to make long-term agreements and share the risks fairly. Without clear financial frameworks, you cannot build a pipeline that will last for decades.\u2019<\/p>\n
\nThe Netherlands is in a favourable starting position. Thanks to its location on the North Sea, existing energy infrastructure and strong industrial base, the country can develop into a strategic hub in the European CCS network.<\/p>\n
\nHowever, the road ahead is not without obstacles. According to Tavenier, the biggest challenge is creating investment certainty. \u2018Companies need to know where they stand,\u2019 he says. “We need political clarity about the role of CCS and hydrogen in European climate policy. And we need concrete instruments for sharing risks, such as state guarantees or targeted EU funding programmes. Only then can a cross-border CO\u2082 network become the backbone of a sustainable industry in North-West Europe.”<\/p>\n
\nFor Gasunie, the mission is clear. The company is fully committed to CO\u2082 infrastructure as part of a broader transition to a climate-neutral energy system. \u2018CCS is a top priority for us,\u2019 concludes Tavenier. \u2018We know that Europe needs this technology. We are working on it \u2014 together with our partners \u2014 so that industry can actually make the transition to net zero.\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"