Introducing CO2NET EAST

CO2NET is pleased to have been influencial in the development of CO2NET EAST which was set up as a coordinated action co-funded by the EC within the 6th Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration activities. The main goal of the project is to extend the existing European CO2 capture and storage (CCS) networking activities to new EU Member States and Associated Candidate Countries. The detailed objectives of CO2NET EAST are:

• to provide membership support to new CO2NET member organisations from EU new Member States and Associated Candidate Countries and enable them active participation in networking activities;

• to co-organise the CO2NET Annual Seminar in 2008 and organise 2 regional workshops in new Member States and/or Associated Candidate Countries (2007 and 2009);

• to disseminate knowledge and increase awareness of CO2 capture and storage technologies in new Member States and Associated Candidate Countries during the whole project duration and afterwards;

• to establish links among CCS stakeholders in new Member States and Associated Candidate Countries and between them and their partners in other EU countries using the existing networks, especially CO2NET and ENeRG (European Network for Research in Geo-Energy) as well as links with the European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants.

A consortium of 7 R&D institutions from new EU Member States and Associated Candidate Countries + Statoil as the industry partner has been formed to implement the project. Czech Geological Survey is the project coordinator. CO2NET EAST was launched on 1 October 2006 and will last for 3 years.