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Archive for the 'Carbon capture & storage' Category

Polish Report on Carbon Capture and Storage

By Eva R Van Der Marel, on 5 March 2014

Poland CCS Report image

The UCL Carbon Capture Storage Programme today published a report on the implementation of the EU CCS Directive in Poland. Jerzy Jendroska, one of Poland’s leading contemporary environmental lawyers, was commissioned by the Programme to write the report.

Transposition of the Directive was a lengthy process, with the final national legislation agreed in September 2013, over two years after the Directive’s deadline for transposition. The delay was largely due to the challenges of creating a workable and clear legal framework within existing complex mining and energy legislation.

To read the full report, please click on on the following link: J. Jendroska – Implementation of the CCS Directive in Poland

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“Nuclear energy sounded wonderful 40 years ago”

By Maria Lee, on 4 March 2014

Four UCL academics have recently published on ‘UK citizen views on Carbon Capture and Storage’ in Energy Policy.

Simon Lock, Melanie Smallman, Maria Lee (of the CLE) and Yvonne Rydin, ‘”Nuclear energy sounded wonderful 40 years ago”: UK citizen views on CCS’ (2014) 66 Energy Policy 428, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421513011312

Abstract

Around the world there is increasing interest from government and industry in the potential for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies to play a part in decarbonisation. This paper examines how people with little previous exposure to CCS technology, frame and discuss it, and how in the absence of information, ideas, notions, values and experiences shape opinion. We present data from a series of focus groups held with environmental activists, planning councillors, and adult and youth community group members in London in 2012. We found that views on CCS are shaped strongly by wider factors, particularly trade offs between different energy futures. Lay-critiques were similar to those put forward by environmental groups and were strongly framed by conceptions of nuclear power. We argue that although there is little public disquiet concerning this technology in private opinions were generally negative. This, and the use of nuclear power as a framing device, may present a challenge to policy-makers and industry committed to implementing CCS while promoting education as the main mechanism for public acceptance.

New Report on Enhanced Oil Recovery Published

By Richard B Macrory, on 17 September 2013

images

The Centre’s Carbon Capture and Legal Programme has published a new report analysing in depth for the first time environmental and energy legislation relating to enhanced oil recovery operations (EOR) in the United Kingdom using carbon dioxide. In the current depressed emissions trading market combined with a continuing squeeze on public finances,  operations that combine enhanced oil recovery with carbon capture and storage (CCS) may proved vital for securing commercial investment in CCS.

The Report examines international conventions, the 2009 EU Directive, and the regulations implementing the Directive within the United Kingdom. It is clear that recent CCS legislation, especially the EU Directive, has not been drafted with the full implications of EOR taken on board, and the Report idenfities a number of signficiant legal issues where EOR operations are combined with long-term CO2 storage.

‘Legal Status of CO2 – Enhanced Oil Recovery’ written by Professor Richard Macrory with Chiara Armeni, Chris Clarke, Sarah Doherty, Eva Van Der Marel, Ben Milligan, and Ray Purdy was commissioned by the University of Edinburgh’s Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage (SCCS) and is available on their web-site.

UCL attends 5th IEA International CCS Regulatory Network Meeting in Paris

By Eva R Van Der Marel, on 28 June 2013

The 5th IEA International CCS Regulatory Network Meeting was held in Paris on 18 and 19 June 2013. This event brought together a wide range of stakeholders from around the world to discuss solutions to key challenges facing governments in developing both incentives and regulatory frameworks for CCS technologies. Research Associate Chiara Armeni presented some of the Centre’s work on the legal status of CO2-Enhanced Oil Recovery (CO2-EOR). Professor Richard Macrory led the closing session, summing up the key lessons learnt and challenges raised earlier during the meeting.

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Report on attendance at Fifth Carbon Capture and Storage Summit

By Eva R Van Der Marel, on 17 May 2013

Held at Rotterdam between 14 to 15 May 2013

By Prof. Jan Glazewskiimages
Institute of Marine & Environmental Law
University of Cape Town (visitor to Centre for Law and the Environment)

A year ago (May 2012) the South African cabinet identified Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as one of the options for South Africa to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions.  Shortly thereafter I was invited by the Carbon Capture Unit within the Centre for Law and Environment at UCL to lead a project on legal and regulatory aspects of CCS in South Africa (see Jan Glazewski, Andrew Gilder and Ernesta Swanepoel ‘Carbon Capture and Storage: Towards a regulatory and legal regime for South Africa’ 2012). As such I thought it worthwhile while a visitor at the UCL Centre in May 2013 to attend the above symposium which also included a field trip to a near ready carbon capture ready power generation plant in the vicinity.

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UCL at Platts Carbon Capture and Storage Conference 2013

By Richard B Macrory, on 3 February 2013

Richard Macrory, Director of the UCL Carbon Capture Legal Programme, was invited to speak at the 7th Annual Platts European Carbon Capture and Storage Conference held in London 31 January and 1st February. The Annual Platts Conference is one of the major CCS events of the year.  Professor Macrory took part in the Panel Discussion ‘Transposing the CCS Directive – what we have learnt and why member state support has waned?’  which was moderated by Henry Edwardes-Evans, managing Editor of Power in Europe.  Macrory reported that most Member States had still not formally transposed the 2009 EU Directive despite a deadline of 25 June 2011.  The European Commission has started formal infringement proceedings against those Member States who have yet to communicate texts of national law.

New Home for Carbon Capture Legal Resources Site

By Richard B Macrory, on 3 December 2012

For the last five years, the UCL Carbon Capture Legal Programme has developed and hosted a highly successful legal resources site, designed to provide accessible and objective information on developments in CCS law and policy around the world. See here for an overview of the Programme.

We are pleased to announced that from December Ist 2012 the Global Carbon Capture Storage Institute will be managing the Resources site, initially using material from UCL.

Professor Richard Macrory, director of the UCL CCLP commented,  “ We know that many lawyers and non-lawyers within the carbon capture community have found the UCL Legal Resources site an invaluable source of accessible and impartial analysis over the past few years.  I am absolutely delighted that  this initiative of the GCCSI means  the Resource will now continue to be available  and develop during a critical period in the development of CCS law and policy.”

The new site can be found at http://www.globalccsinstitute.com/networks/cclp

 

Carbon Capture Legal Programme EU Case Studies

By Richard B Macrory, on 14 November 2012

The EU Case Studies Project

Background

In June 2009, the European Union adopted its ‘Climate and Energy Package’, which contains a series of measures to drive Member States’ legal and policy strategies to achieve the EU’s emissions reduction targets. Directive 31/2009/EC on the geological storage of carbon dioxide (‘CCS Directive’) was adopted as an element of this Package and represents one of the first CCS-dedicated legal frameworks in the world. The Directive requires all EU Member States to adopt domestic measures to implement its provisions within national law (‘transposition’) by 25 June 2011. The European Commission is responsible for monitoring its correct implementation into Member States’ national law.

The Project

The Carbon Capture Legal Programme launched the ‘EU Case Studies Project’ in January 2011. The project analyses the implementation process of the CCS Directive in selected European jurisdictions-the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Romania, Spain, and Norway. Each jurisdiction, for different reasons, provides an example of distinct approaches to the transposition and to CCS in general.

The objective of the Project is to identify some of the more subtle nuances in different legal cultures and to understand the rationale for national decisions in specific aspects of the implementation of the Directive within national legal regimes. In particular, the focus is on those areas where the Directive leaves room for Member States’ discretion or is ambiguous or silent. In conjunction with the more detailed provisions and legal choices, the Project also aims to highlight the national policy and political context within which the legal and regulatory framework for CCS has emerged. The studies are deliberately designed to move beyond formal transposition measures to reveal more of the underlying dynamics and tensions involved in national implementation. Such elements are often crucial in driving domestic legal developments. The way in which EU Directives are implemented often reflect distinct legal and administrative traditions, and the case studies seek to present these in order to provide better insights on the development of CCS regulation.

The result of the project is a series of reports from the six jurisdictions based on key legal and policy questions and on a critical reading of the CCS Directive. The CCLP is coordinating the overall research and has carried out the UK case study. Independent experts were commissioned to carry out research in Germany, Poland, Romania, Spain, and Norway. The reports were published in November 2011.

CCLP EU Case Studies UK (2011)
Author: Chiara Armeni
CCLP EU Case Studies Germany (2011)
Author: Ludwig Krämer
  CCLP EU Case Studies Spain (2011)
Author: Ludwig Krämer
  CCLP EU Case Studies Romania (2011)
Author: Mónika Józon
CCLP EU Case Studies Norway (2011)
Authors: Hans Christian Bugge and André Lamark Ueland

New paper: spatial planning for offshore carbon dioxide storage

By Ben M Milligan, on 18 October 2012

Centre members Ben Milligan and Chiara Armeni have recently completed a paper entitled ‘Marine spatial planning for emerging marine activities: a case study of law and policy concerning offshore carbon storage in the United Kingdom’. Ben Milligan presented the paper at the 7th Conference of the Advisory Board on the Law of the Sea (Monaco, 3 – 5 October 2012), which is convened by the International Hydrographic Organisation and the International Association of Geodesy.

The paper identifies key design features of the United Kingdom’s framework for marine permitting and spatial planning, appraising the extent to which they enable orderly deployment of offshore CO2 storage technology. The paper and accompanying presentation will be published on the conference website.

See here for an overview of the Centre’s Carbon Capture Legal Programme.

‘Think Pieces’ on current legal issues on CCS

By Ben M Milligan, on 5 October 2012

The Carbon Capture Legal Programme has commissioned several ‘Think Pieces’ from those with an expertise or particular perspective on legal developments concerning CCS. The pieces aim to provide an brief insight into discrete topics with a view to provoking further discussion and research.

Additional Think Pieces will be added throughout the duration of the Programme. If you are interested in contributing a Think Piece to the site please contact one of the Centre members.

For further information about the Carbon Capture Legal Programme, click here.

Current Think Pieces:

From EOR to E2R: Sequestering CO2 while reducing dependence on imported oil (May 2011)
Philip M. Marston
The new regime for CCS in Spain: an overview (April 2011)
Angel-Manuel Moreno
CO2 Emission Performance Standards: a submission to the UK Select Committee on Energy and Climate Change (October 2010)
Richard Macrory
Working Party Report on the arrangements needed to develop the Infrastructure for Carbon Capture and Storage in the UK (July 2010)
Lord Oxburgh et al
The Gorgon Project: legal and policy issues (March 2010)
Andrew Beatty, Ilona Millar and Megan Flynn
Legislating to quantify risk and increase the financial viability of CCS projects (March 2009)
Calum Hughes
Carbon Capture and Storage in the Clean Development Mechanism: overcoming the stalemate (September 2008)
Pedro Martins Barata
Site Exploration: Are We Developing a Sensible Regulatory Regime? (September 2008)
Richard Macrory
Current CCS regulation in Norway (April 2008)
Nina K. Hallenstvedt