Ecorys supports the European Commission in developing Projects of Common Interest selection methodology and in evaluating candidate projects

Ecorys and Ramboll supported the European Commission in developing the methodology for the selection of Projects of Common Interest (PCI) in the thematic area of carbon dioxide (CO2) transport infrastructure. In a follow-up project, the consortium evaluated candidate projects striving for PCI status.

The methodological study involved the interpretation of TEN-E Guidelines. The project included the following challenges: the development of a Cost-Benefit Analysis methodology for carbon dioxide (CO2) infrastructure projects, the evaluation of social cost of carbon emissions under various assumptions, and the creation of an application template for candidate projects.

After having successfully completed the methodological project, Ecorys was asked to evaluate the candidates for PCI in the context of another project. Candidate projects were evaluated and the four projects listed below were selected to be included in the ‘Union list of projects of common interest (‘UNION LIST’)’. This list was published on November 23, 2017:

Teesside CO2 hub (United Kingdom, in further phases Netherlands, Belgium, Germany)
CO2-Sapling Transport and Infrastructure Project (United Kingdom, in further phases Netherlands, Norway)
The Rotterdam Nucleus (Netherlands and United Kingdom)
CO2 cross-border transport connections between emission sources in United Kingdom and Netherlands and a storage site in Norway

“We are very pleased to have participated in this study, which we believe demonstrated real and substantial social costs of carbon emissions” said Karolina Ryszka, Ecorys energy expert. “The candidate project applications were of good quality, clearly demonstrating that, on balance, their socio-economic benefits outweigh their costs”.
“Commercial viability of CCS projects is still far away and the technology is still at early stages of development” said Anatoli Smirnov, Study Manager, “nevertheless, we are satisfied that the candidate projects are technically feasible and can play an important part in allowing the EU achieve its long-term target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% by 2050”.

Including the projects on the PCI list allows them to benefit from accelerated planning. Furthermore, it permits the EC granting, improved regulatory and environmental assessment processes. They also have the right to apply for funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).