CCS is a technology where CO₂ is captured from large emission sources like coal power plants and large industrial factories. The captured CO₂ is then stored in suitable storage locations deep under the ground.

CCS has the potential to eliminate a large share of global CO₂ emissions, but there are several barriers that must be overcome before this can be a reality. One of them is to build infrastructure that links CO₂ emission sources with storage locations. But building infrastructure raises another challenge; how to identify the best value chain for CCS, i.e. the most economically viable infrastructure.

The ECCO project addresses this challenge as it aims at defining CCS value chains for two areas of special interest in Europe; the North Sea and Central Europe.

Expected results
The ECCO project is still in its initial phase and has not yet delivered any results, but future results from the project are however, expected to have a significant influence on how European CCS infrastructure will be built and operated.

The main result from the project will be the final report (expected published September 2011) with strategies and recommendations for deployment of CO₂ value chains.

A CO₂ value chain assessment software tool will also be developed. The objective of the tool is to enable transparent and robust analysis of CO₂ value chains.

Expected impact
European CCS infrastructure has not yet been built, and politician and industrial leaders are today seeking advice on how the most economically viable CCS infrastructure could be established. The ECCO project will give the answers and thereby contribute to accelerated development of CCS.

The knowledge, methods, and tools developed in ECCO will influence future CCS initiatives by enabling the industrial players and the authorities to analyze, understand, and make sound decisions.