Highlights of the 2009 EURELECTRIC Annual Convention & Conference

EURELECTRIC AWARD 2009

Award 2009 - Videoclip

CHRIS DAVIES MEP RECEIVES EURELECTRIC AWARD FOR WORK ON CCS

“Chris Davies has fully understood two key principles: that coal-based power generation has a vital ongoing role to play in ensuring energy supply security and that carbon capture and storage is the answer to making coal-based power compatible with climate change objectives,” former EURELECTRIC Secretary-General and chair of the EURELECTRIC Award panel Paul Bulteel told the audience at the EURELECTRIC Annual Conference in Bucharest on 16 June as he introduced the 2009 Award winner. British Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies was the European Parliament rapporteur on the Directive on Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide which was adopted by EU legislators early this year.

The Award was conceived by the association representing the European electricity industry in order to honour a company or individual that has made an outstanding contribution to revolutionising the operations, processes, technologies or products of the electricity industry.

The Directive on Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide establishes a regulatory framework for CCS technologies under which industrial installations including power plants may capture CO₂ and store it permanently and safely underground, thus complying with their CO₂ emissions reduction commitments. The legislators have also earmarked 300 million allowances under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to provide co-financing for large-scale CCS demonstration projects and innovative renewable energies. The CCS and ETS Directives form part of the energy-climate package adopted this year by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers.

Handing over the Award to Mr Davies, EURELECTRIC President Lars G. Josefsson praised the “relentless commitment and effective action” he had shown in driving the Directive through Parliament and negotiating tirelessly with the Council to secure the adoption of this important piece of legislation. Though in his policy work Mr Davies has shown himself to be “no unquestioning admirer of the electricity industry,” he nevertheless recognised the vital need to create a solid legal framework for CCS deployment and provide pre-competitive support for its demonstration, in the interests of a secure, low-carbon power supply in Europe and “displayed particular transparency in engaging in open dialogue with industrial stakeholders throughout the legislative process,” Mr Josefsson told the audience.

The EURELECTRIC President stressed that “the European electricity industry is ready to play a full role in helping the EU to meet its energy-climate targets while ensuring energy supply security. CCS technology will be a vital element in this equation as it offers a massive opportunity to revolutionise the power industry by reducing emissions from fossil-fuel fired power stations by 80-90%.” He welcomed the legislators’ agreement on financial support for the pre-competitive demonstration of CCS agreed and stressed that it is now time to agree on the details of allocating these funds to various projects. The key is “to ensure a broad technological and geographical scope in the demonstration programme, leading to a useful exchange of information and enabling rapid deployment of CCS on an industrial scale,” he said.

Mr Davies said: "We will fail to control global warming if we fail to reduce CO₂ emissions from coal and gas power plants. CCS technology offers a medium term solution that may buy the world the time it needs to develop alternative sources of electricity production. I'm pleased to have played a role in stimulating its development, and I'm impressed by the speed with which the electricity industry is adjusting its focus and putting CCS firmly at the heart of its thinking for the future."