CCS in CEE: Closing the Gap

#EUKICON26 || Day 2 || 10:45 AM

Attendees explored challenges of carbon capture technologies and its public perception in Central and Eastern Europe, aiming to identify gaps and foster coordinated efforts for fair industrial decarbonisation.

Summary

The workshop aimed to familiarise participants with the complexities of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in Central and Eastern Europe. Facilitated by Ana-Maria Niculicea from Energy Policy Group (Romania) and Janis Volberts from Bellona Europa (Latvia), the session included an introductory presentation covering the fundamentals of carbon management, the importance of prioritising CCS, and the key barriers to deployment in the region, including limited institutional capacity, insufficient funding, lack of infrastructure, and public perception challenges.

Participants then explored these issues in greater depth through facilitated group exercises based on hypothetical CCS deployment scenarios. These discussions highlighted tensions and challenges related to public acceptance, infrastructure development, capacity constraints, and the need for a just transition. Overall, the workshop emphasised the importance of a nuanced understanding of CCS and its role in advancing industrial decarbonisation across the EU. 

Facilitators

• Ana Niculicea, Energy Policy Group (EPG)

• Janis Volberts, Bellona Europa