Germany pursues a number of different approaches to reduce CO₂ emissions. The German federal government adopted the strategy for CCUS at the end of May 2024 with a focus on prevention and substitution. However, despite maximum effort, some sources of CO₂ will remain, e.g., the cement industry. This is where the German strategy turns to innovative solutions, such as CCUS, to prevent the emission of CO₂ into the atmosphere.
The EU Horizon 2020 Innovation Action project “ACCSESS” is led by SINTEF Energy and concentrates on advancing CCS technologies to enable their widespread deployment in Europe. The focus here is on industries such as cement production or the paper and cellulose industry, where it is difficult to reduce carbon emissions.
As part of the “ACCSESS” project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO is responsible for social integration of CCUS and the perspectives of cities and regions. Objectives include the creation of teaching materials, the development of standardized CCUS solutions, education of national environmental authorities and implementation of a comprehensive communication plan.
Manual with climate solutions
“The CCUS manual for sustainable urban development explains the role of this technology for promoting urban sustainability. It offers guidance for informed decision-makers on the implementation of CCUS technologies through analysis of current climate strategies and surveys,” explains Inna Zhuravlova, project manager and research scientist at Fraunhofer IAO.
In addition to the CCUS manual, the “ACCSESS” project also explores CO₂ capture and usage testing, CCUS chain development, and stakeholder engagement and information.
Panel discussion and online workshop
A panel discussion on June 17, 2024, as part of the “Morgenstadt” (City of the Future) NEO workshop of Fraunhofer Gesellschaft aims at fostering the exchange of knowledge and creating a deeper understanding of this important climate action technology — from its application in urban environments to public opinion and the latest research developments.
On October 7, 2024, an online workshop will be held in English for European cities interested in deploying the technology for urban decarbonization. Speakers will come from the pioneering cities of Zurich (Switzerland), Trondheim (Norway) and Gothenburg (Sweden). They will present their experiences, the challenges and advantages of CCS projects and how cities can benefit from them.
Participation in the “ACCSESS” survey
In order to assess the state of knowledge and the development of CCUS technologies in Europe and to promote the exchange of knowledge between city administrations, “ACCSESS” is still looking for European cities to participate in two surveys. All interested cities and public administrations are invited to get involved and participate.
Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO