With or Without CCS? Decarbonising the EU Power Sector: Policy Update Number Three

The European Union (EU) Energy Roadmap issued by the European Commission states that by 2050 carbon capture and storage (CCS) equipped power facilities will account for 19%-32% of EU generation. However, based on case studies, this policy brief finds that unless there is substantial change in EU and national policies, CCS will contribute only marginally to greenhouse gas emissions mitigation. Without the contribution from CCS envisioned in the EU Energy Roadmap, the EU will have to invest sooner in other technologies such as electricity storage and nuclear facilities to meet the targeted goal of reducing emissions by 80% compared to 1990 levels.