Newsletter - December 2020
The Word of the Secretary General

Dear Members and Partners,
Times keep being challenging in the health front, but we now start seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. At the same time, industrial activity is back on track and the European Commission is stepping up our climate goals for a 55% emission reduction by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. These ambitious goals are followed by a series of developments in a very wide policy spectrum. This is a good opportunity for the CCU industry to establish itself as the driver for a sustainable and future-proof economy.
This is the message from our 4th CO2 Value Day on the 10th of November that gathered almost 150 CCU pioneers who discussed about the future priorities of the sector. You can find all about our CVE day in this newsletter, together with an update of all recent news and developments in the CCU sector. We are particularly happy to welcome new Members in our Board of Directors that will help bring our Association forward.
Enjoy your reading and stay healthy!
 
Anastasios Perimenis
Welcome to our new members
Past events with CVE representation
  • ENLIT: Carbon Capture’s role in the energy transition (A. Perimenis)
  • Eurogas: Do European industry and consumers need decarbonised and renewable gas to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050? (A. Perimenis)
  • AXELERA: Journée Technique (C. Sapart)
  • GAP/DENA: Financing Powerfuels Pathways (A. Perimenis)
  • EURAENERGIE: CO2 Industries et Territoires (C. Sapart)
  • GAP/DENA: Carbon Sources for Powerfuels Production (S. Gielis)
  • Entreprenariat et Transition: L'innovation (C. Sapart)
  • ANU: The Technology Investment Roadmap: Carbon Capture and Use as an emerging technology (C.Sapart)   
  • LN24-TV: les acteurs de l’Eco (C.Sapart)
  • RTBF-RADIO: Future Simple (C.Sapart)
  • GSTIC2020 CONFERENCE (W. Eevers)
Our 4th CO2 Value Day in short
The current circumstances of the Corona epidemic forced the CO2 Value Day 2020 to take place virtually. Nevertheless, the motivation surrounding spreading the word on CCU remained high. Various external speakers joined forces to enclose different views on how to implement CCU technologies at large scale. After the inspiring opening of our President Dr Stefanie Kesting, Sebastien Soleille (Global Head of Energy Transition and Environment at BNP Parisbas Fortis) gave a presentation on the role banks can play in supporting the development of CCU projects. Next, Vincent Basuyau (Policy Officer at DG Grow) discussed the challenges of creating a favorable policy framework for large scale CCU deployment at EU level. During the following Q&A session, the discussion focused on the remaining barriers and required actions to create a new CCU industry. The lack of policy support came out as the main barrier while the financing of large number of demonstration scale CCU installations as well as the creation of a market for CCU products came out as the key priorities in term of actions.
To end the event, two break-out sessions were proposed to the attendees. One on how to develop an advocacy strategy led by Stefan Gielis (CVE EU Affairs Manager) and one on projects and funding led by Anastasios Perimenis (CVE Secretary General). Finally, the event was closed off with a match-making session in which participants could chat face to face, partly replacing the usual coffee and lunch break networking moment. Overall, the event has been very successful in terms of participation and feedback and we thank our sponsor BNP Parisbas Fortis, all the speakers and attendees for their presence and contributions.
Welcome to our new Board Members
CO2 Value Europe is glad to welcome three new board members: Rose de Lannoy (ENGIE), Christoph Beuttler (Climeworks) and Juha Lehtonen (VTT) and to congratulate Zanna McFerson (Avantium), Walter Eevers (VITO) and Eric Trodoux (Suez) for their re-election during the General Assembly on the 10th of November 2020. 
News in the Secretariat
Anastasios Perimenis is now the new Secretary General and replaces Damien Dallemagne in this function. However, Damien will stay working for the Association as external strategic adviser.
Eline Hendriks has joined the Secretariat as internee for 6 month. She is helping to create the CVE databases and new sharepoint, but also supports the different tasks of the secretariat. We wish Eline all the best for her internship.
CVE is currently in the phase of hiring a Communication and Event Manager. She/He will support the development and implementation of the communication and dissemination strategy of the Association, but also of the EU projects we are involved in. 
CVE WORKSHOP: "Mineralisation: How to trap CO2 into useful rocks” 
On the 15th of December, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM CET, CO2 Value Europe pioneer members Carbon8 Systems, VITO, Orbix and Mitsubishi Corporation will present current developments in CO2 mineralisation based on real-life applications (e.g. CO2-based construction aggregates, pavements, concrete). We will also hear Prof. Bardow (ETH Zürich) explain how mineralisation can contribute to climate change mitigation from a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) perspective and we will address the current priorities towards a regulatory framework that will acknowledge and support the role of CO2 mineralisation.
This event is open to all, so do not hesitate to register and advertise it. Registration link here.
Creation of a CCU Scientific Advisory Committee
CVE aims to build its advocacy, communication and technical activities on solid and objective scientific evidences, but also to reinforce the involvement of RTO’s and universities in the activities of our industry-driven association. For that reason, a CCU Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) is being created. All scientific experts (members and external) from the entire spectrum of CCU value chain (technology, LCA, socio-economic context, climate science, political science) are welcome to apply to join this effort.
The participation to the SAC is on voluntary basis and each expert can decide to be involved actively or passively (answer to our request on their specific expertise). This committee will not be a governance body, but it will be coordinated by the CVE secretariat and will have an advisory role. Please do not hesitate to contact our Climate Expert and Head of Communications, Célia Sapart ([email protected]) to state your interest in joining at the latest by the 15th of December 2020.
Join the next review of the 6th Assessment Report of the IPCC-WG3
CVE is closely following the work of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC). Indeed, the IPCC provide international policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change and its implications, but also on the adaptation and mitigation solutions associated. All experts on CCU technologies and related themes are invited to contribute as expert reviewers to the next Assessment Report (AR6). The AR6 is divided into several working groups and CCU should be part of the Working Group 3 (WG3) (“Mitigation of Climate Change”).
The COVID crisis has slowed down the writing and reviewing processes of the AR6 therefore the review of the second order draft of the WG3 has been postponed and will take place between the 18th of January and the 14th of March 2021. Please find more information on the role of Expert Reviewer here and do not hesitate to contact our Climate Expert ([email protected]) for support and further discussions on the subject.
Advocacy Update
Over the past months and years, CVE has increased its visibility towards the European policymakers and has put many efforts on advocacy activities. In order to further increase these efforts and ensure that CCU is taken into account in all relevant legislations, CVE is currently developing an extended advocacy strategy. The aim of developing a strategy is to have a more structured approach on advocacy work in order to integrate the goal of the association within a very complex policy framework.
In the meantime, CVE monitors and continues working on several key pieces of legislation as explained below.
The Renewable Energy Directive II (REDII) has been revised in 2018, but several delegated acts still need to be implemented and the EU Commission has engaged to review the directive by June 2021. CVE participated on 13 October in the “Stakeholder meeting on the delegated act on the methodology to determine the renewability of electricity used in the production of RFNBOs” and is following up on this matter with the European Commission and other stakeholders. The Roadmap for this Directive review had been published, and CVE responded to the consultation that guided this Roadmap. Recently, the European Commission also issued the Public Consultation on the review, which we will respond to before the deadline of 9 February 2021.
Also the Emission Trade System (ETS) has been high on the agenda of both Working Groups as well. The European Commission issued a Roadmap towards the revision of the ETS. CVE responded to this Roadmap. At the same time, the Commission published the Public Consultation, which will be discussed in both Working Groups. The deadline to respond to this consultation is 5 February 2021.
Apart from these two key files, CVE has also been active on several other matters:
  • CVE responded to the European Commission Public Consultation on Sustainable Aviation Fuels, after discussing this within the Working Group on CCU based fuels.
  • CVE responded to the Sustainable Products Initiative Roadmap. In the response CVE highlighted that a fully circular carbon economy can emerge where CO2 is no longer considered as a waste emission but as a carbon source in replacement of fossil feedstock, and that CO2 mineralisation is a family of CCU processes that illustrate a “double” circular economy (circular economy for carbon + circular economy for solid waste materials).
Funding Update
  • Two new H2020 projects granted
CVE is the Communication & Dissemination leader in two new H2020 projects recently accepted. The first one, INITIATE (Grant Agreement Number: 958318) started on the 1st of November 2020 for 4.5 years and is dealing with the capture and utilisation of steel-mill off-gases for the production of urea. The second one is dealing with the production of sustainable aviation fuels from captured CO2; it is expected to start on the 1st of January and is currently in the process of Grant Agreement signature with the Commission.
  • Innovation Fund
The deadline for the 1st stage of the Innovation Fund 1st large-scale call has closed on the 29th of October 2021. A total of 311 applications were submitted (including CCU projects), corresponding to a budget of 21.7 billion €. The results of the evaluation of the 1st stage will be announced in the first quarter of 2021. The best ranked 70 projects will be invited to submit a full application for the 2nd stage by 23 June 2021. The information on the evaluation results from the 2nd stage will be provided in the fourth quarter of 2021. Grants will be awarded in end 2021. All necessary information can be found in the Funding & Tenders Portal and in the Innovation Fund website (including the methodologies and support material). A second call of 100 M€ has opened on the 1st of December 2020 for small-scale projects (i.e. CAPEX less than 7.5 M€). CVE has followed closely all the development, so if you haven’t already reached out to us, please inform us on your willingness to apply and let us know how we can support you with the application.
  • The H2020 Green Deal Call
The Green Deal Call is open in the Funding & Tenders Portal and there are mainly three topics that are of strong CCU relevance: LC-GD-3-1-2020 on closing the industrial carbon cycle with 80M€ budget for 2 projects, LC-GD-3-2-2020 on territorial development of the circular economy with 30M€ budget for 2-3 projects, and LC-GD-5-1-2020 on green airports and ports with 100M€ budget for 4 (2+2) projects). Further topics can be also relevant for you. We invite you to exchange with and reach out to each other and bring forward project proposals.
  • Horizon Europe
Initial drafts are being prepared for Clusters 4 (Digital, Industry, Space) and 5 (Climate, Energy, Mobility) and through keywords like CCUS, air capture, renewable energy carriers from emissions, alternative carbon-neutral fuels, catalytic reactors, PtX and sector integration, it becomes clear that CCU R&I activities will have their place also in the next framework programme.
Take your chance and participate to the Best CO2 Utilisation Award 2021
The Nova Institute, together with CVE and Yncoris will award a prize to innovative products and technologies in the field of Carbon Capture and Carbon Utilisation (Power-to-X) at the “9th Conference on CO2-based Fuels and Chemicals”.
All innovators in CO2 utilisation and developers of technologies to capture and/or convert CO2 into fuels or chemicals are invited to apply for this innovation award.
Let’s take your chance and apply for the award here.
If you wish to support the event and/or awards, please check the possibilities of sponsorship here.
SUNERGY: First Industrial Webinar
CVE supports the SUNERGY initiative and participates as Board member to the SUNERGY INDUSTRY BOARD.
On 8 December (3PM CET) SUNERGY will organise its first Industrial Webinar: Energy carriers and approaches towards a closed carbon-cycle. SUNERGY Industry Board members Maximilian Fleischer (Siemens Energy), Anastasios Perimenis (CO2 Value Europe) and Jan Mertens (Engie) will talk about energy carriers, including carbon-based ones, and give an overview about the technologies needed, energy transport and carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) strategies. Their talks will provide a general overview of the challenges European companies are facing towards climate-neutrality and how SUNERGY initiative could help contributing with different approaches.  
You can find more information and register for this webinar here. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to SUNERGY via [email protected]
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