A new CEN/TC will develop standards for carbon capture, utilization and storage

CCUS is an important emission reduction technology that can be applied across the energy system. Technologies involve the capture of CO₂ from fuel combustion or industrial processes, the transport of this CO₂ via ship or pipeline, and either its use as a resource to create valuable products or services or its permanent storage deep underground in geological formations. CCUS also provides the foundation for carbon removal or negative emissions when the CO₂ comes from bio-based processes or directly from the atmosphere.

International standardization activities on CCUS are developed in ISO/TC 265. The proposed new CEN/TC aims to build on existing ISO/TC 265 standards, supplementing them with homegrown documents tailored to the needs of European stakeholders. Through establishing liaisons with the relevant CEN and ISO Technical Committees, the standardization activities will be coordinated, and collaboration will be encouraged to avoid duplication of work or conflicting requirements.

In recent years, there have been numerous new CCUS project announcements across Europe, most of which are clustered around the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Mediterranean Sea. The total potential annual storage capacity of these projects exceeds 80 MtCO₂. However, only a few of them are currently operational.

“It is now the right moment to intensify standardization activities,” says Koen Kobes from the Dutch Standardization Institute (NEN), who will hold the secretariat of CEN/TC 474. “We believe a dedicated CEN/TC will be an effective instrument to build European coordination and cooperation in the CCUS market.”

If you are interested in joining this Technical Committee, please contact the CEN National Standardization Body in your country.

For more information, please contact Koen KOBES (NEN) or Carolina MÜLLER.