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Carbon Capture and Storage Directive

Summary
Evaluation
Commission Proposal
Legal Act
Implementation

Overall State of Play:

Evaluation finalised January 2015, external evaluation study

Summary:

Directive 2009/31/EC on geological storage of CO2 (CCS Directive) is considered as fit-for-purpose and as putting the necessary regulatory framework in place for safe CO₂ capture, transport and storage while allowing the Member States sufficient flexibility in the implementation of the CCS Directive. The external evaluation study found that the guidance documents need to be revised when there is more experience with CCS projects in the EU, which is not expected to happen before 2020. The Commission is following continuously the developments in the sector.

Estimated savings and benefits

Due to the limited availability of data, it was not possible during the evaluation to assess the efficiency of the CCS Directive. The impact assessment for the CCS Directive estimated the administrative costs to 2030 to be €17.8 million, with 70% of this falling on operators, 26% on Member States and 4% on the Commission. In 2015, the external evaluation study concluded that there has not yet been enough experience of CCS regulation to question, or suggest adjustments to those numbers, though the lack of experience also means that they cannot be confirmed.

State of Play:

Finalised on 15 January 2015, external evaluation study

Scope:

Evaluation of Carbon Capture and Storage Directive 2009/31/EC

Evaluation findings:

The CCS Directive is considered as fit-for-purpose and as putting the necessary regulatory framework in place for safe CO₂ capture, transport and storage while allowing the Member States sufficient flexibility in the implementation of the CCS Directive. The guidance documents need to be revised once there is more experience with CCS projects.

Estimated savings and benefits

At the time of the evaluation, it was not possible yet to provide an answer on the efficiency of the CCS Directive as there was insufficient data available. The impact assessment for the CCS Directive estimates the administrative costs to 2030 to be €17.8 million, with 70% of this falling on operators, 26% on Member States and 4% on the Commission. In 2015, the external evaluation study concluded that there has not yet been enough experience of CCS regulation to question, or suggest adjustments to those numbers.