How the CO₂ Capture Project works

The CO₂ Capture Project (CCP) grew out of the September 1999 BP / International Energy Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Program / US Department of Energy informational meeting ‘CO₂ Capture and Geologic Sequestration: Progress through Partnership’. At the beginning of 2000, the CCP started as a three year development program with the goal of bringing candidate technologies to pilot plant or demonstration stage. The program rapidly grew to a $50 million long-term project funded mainly by the participant companies (70%) - including phase one participant EnCana - with further support from governments. The project is currently in the third of its three phases. The focus of Phase Three (2009-2013) is to prepare the ground for widespread deployment of CO₂ Capture and Storage (CCS).

Working in partnership

Since its inception, CCP participants have undertaken more than 150 projects to increase understanding of the science, engineering, application and economics of CCS with research institutions, universities and commercial organizations. In addition, member organizations have contributed the results of proprietary research as well as data obtained from existing CO₂ capture and geological injection and storage operations and demonstrations. This is shared with the wider academic and industrial community through technical conferences and publications.

CO₂ Capture Project structure

CCP activities are carried out through the close cooperation and shared decision-making of four teams of technical advisors: Capture, SMV (Storage, Monitoring and Verification), Policy and Incentives, and Communications. These teams are composed of technologists and global experts from CCP member companies and external organizations that investigate advances, monitor development of technologies and policies, look for ways to integrate best technology advances from the program, and present results at technology forums and industry and academic conferences.

The program is led by and operates through an Executive Board composed of representatives from each full member organization. This Executive Board selects from the many opportunities for technology improvements and funds those developments. An Advisory Board, composed of experts from academia, consulting organizations and other independent bodies, also reviews and recommends changes to the program and potential new areas for exploration on a regular basis.

A commitment to all stakeholders

The members of the CCP also believe that the challenges associated with addressing global climate change require solutions that are economically and socially acceptable to stakeholders such as industry, government, NGOs and consumer groups.

As such, the CCP holds a series of meetings and updates for a variety of key stakeholders such as regulators, policy makers and NGOs that take place in Europe and America (North and South). This ensures that the program meets the needs of those stakeholders while addressing concerns or questions and, critically, demonstrates that CCS is an effective carbon mitigation option that is market ready.