D3.2 Identification of potential PCI

The CCUS ZEN project is a European initiative to promote the deployment of Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With a focus on the Baltic and Mediterranean Sea regions, the project evaluates the technical and non-technical aspects of potential CCUS value chains, selecting promising sites for eventual full-scale deployment.

The document summarises work from the CCUS ZEN project's Task 3.2 of Work Package 3, discussing the requirements and advantages of obtaining Project of Common Interest (PCI) status. The classification as a PCI is crucial for vital energy infrastructure projects within the EU, supporting the European goal for climate neutrality by 2050 by interconnecting energy systems of Member States, enhancing market competition, and securing energy supply.

The report identifies potential CCUS infrastructure candidates for PCI and lists the main factors that set them in line with the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) Regulation. 

The proposed PCIs can be crucial to integrate key energy markets within the EU and benefit from faster permit processing, better regulatory conditions, and potential eligibility for financial support through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The benefits extend to reduced administrative costs and the provision of a solid foundation for cross-border carbon dioxide network development. The report lists three potential PCI projects, selected from the outcome of the CCUS ZEN Work Package 3 analyses, which could highly contribute for the European overall industrial decarbonisation:

• A cross border pipeline system connecting Germany to Denmark which could transport 7.4 Mt/y of CO2 through 205 km from emitters in Hannover and Hamburg for geological storage and utilisation in Jutland or the Danish section of the North Sea.

• A pipeline system connecting Northern Poland and Southern Eastern Lithuania to the Port of Gdańsk, transporting approximately 9 Mt/y of CO2. The pipeline network could stretch up to 932 km and opens pathways for CCUS implementation to the Czech industry. From the Port of Gdańsk, CO2 can be shipped for geological storage in multiple regions in the North Sea.

• A pipeline infrastructure and harbour terminal for CCUS in Southern Italy. The pipeline system connects multiple emitters in Italy while a harbour in Brindisi allows for imports of CO2 from multiple regions, particularly Greece. The transportation infrastructure suggested for PCI would process 3 Mt/y.

The document suggests an initial stakeholder assessment, for the Baltic and Mediterranean Sea regions' proposed infrastructure projects. It also provides insight into existing EU PCIs that relate to CCUS initiatives, drawing parallels and inferring suitability for new applications. To enhance the prospects of PCI application, the report accentuates the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration, mature project definition, technical preparation, and secure financing – all aimed at demonstrating project viability and alignment with the EU energy transition objectives.