CO2GeoNet - IRIS

Europe now has a scientific authority on CO₂ storage

CO₂GeoNet, Europe’s Network of Excellence working on the geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂), met in Venice 18-20^th March 2009 and presented highlights from five years of research and development carried out by hundreds of scientists and to interact with stakeholders on future needs to be addressed by science.

CO₂GeoNet will host an open forum on the island of San Servolo, Venice with an audience of policy-makers, public authorities, industry executives, regulators, NGOs, EC representatives, engineers and scientists attending from across Europe, Australia, Canada, Iran, Japan and the USA. The following key questions will be answered:

1. What have we learnt about the behaviour of the CO₂ storage complex?
2. Enhanced hydrocarbon recovery: is it still an option for CO₂ storage?
3. Can we detect and quantify CO₂ leakage at ground surface and sea bottom?
4. What if CO₂ reaches the surface?

DR NICK RILEY MBE, Head of Science Policy, Europe at the British Geological Survey & President of CO₂GeoNet said: “Europe is leading the world in setting up a regional regulatory framework that will ensure CO₂ capture and storage is conducted safely and eligible under the European Emissions Trading Scheme”.

SERGIO PERSOGLIA, International Collaborations Director at the Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale, Italy and CO₂GeoNet Secretary General said: “Geological storage of CO₂ is maturing as a technically feasible option to reduce the emission of CO₂ in the atmosphere thanks to the work of hundreds of European scientists. A wealth of knowledge has been acquired to build the foundations for the efficient and safe deployment of CO₂ Capture and Storage (CCS) within and beyond the European Union”.

By integrating research from a number of different disciplines, CO₂GeoNet has particularly contributed to a comprehensive CO₂ storage framework. This will enable policymakers to progress towards CCS implementation. Research and development carried out by CO₂GeoNet scientists provides the scientific basis to the application of the new European Directive on the Geological Storage of CO₂.

ISABELLE CZERNICHOWSKI-LAURIOL, project manager at Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres, France & Network Manager of CO₂GeoNet said: “The most successful result of this EC-founded Network of Excellence is the transformation of CO₂GeoNet into a legal entity, a scientific association under French law. CO₂GeoNet has become the European scientific authority on the geological storage of CO₂, needed to accelerate the deployment of and build confidence in the full range of CO₂ storage technologies”.

The CO2GeoNet
CO₂GeoNet is the European Network of Excellence on CO₂ geological storage. It was created in 2004 under the 6th Framework Programme with EC funding for 5 years. This body currently comprises a network of 13 public research institutes from 7 European countries, and brings together over 300 scientists with the multidisciplinary expertise needed to address all aspects of CO₂ storage. In 2008, the Network was transformed into a legally registered Association under French law. With activities encompassing joint research, training, scientific advice, information and communication, CO2GeoNet has a
valuable and independent role to play in enabling the efficient and safe geological
storage of CO₂.

Further details can be found at www.co2geonet.eu

CO₂GeoNet partners are:

BGS, British Geological Survey, United Kingdom
BGR, Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe, Germany
BRGM, Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres, France
GEUS, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Denmark
IFP, France
HWU, Herriot-Watt University, United Kingdom
IMPERIAL, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, United Kingdom
NIVA, Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Norway
OGS, Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale, Italy
IRIS, International Research Institute of Stavanger, Norway
SPR, SINTEF Petroleum Research, Norway
TNO, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, the Netherlands
URS, Sapienza University of Rome Dip. Scienze della Terra

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