On Tuesday 3 February, the European Commission adopted a delegated regulation establishing the first certification methodologies for CO2 capture and permanent storage activities, thus continuing the implementation of the EU certification framework for carbon removals and carbon farming (CRCF) (https://aeur.eu/f/kko ).
The text complements the 2024 regulation on a European certification framework for carbon removals (see EUROPE 13523/22) and introduces harmonised rules for environmentally reliable processes, thanks to quality criteria, methods for calculating volumes actually stored, consideration of emissions over the entire life cycle, monitoring obligations, sustainability requirements and liability mechanisms in the event of leakage.
The aim is both to secure investment in sequestration technologies and to prevent the risks of greenwashing.
Direct Air Capture with Carbon Storage (DACCS), Biogenic Emissions Capture with Carbon Storage (BioCCS) and Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) are covered.
For each of these activities, methodologies define the sources of emissions to be counted, the monitoring periods and the conditions for permanent storage.
Compliant projects will also be able to apply for European certification, enabling the recognition of permanent carbon removal units and the creation of a dedicated market. The regulation will now be sent to the European Parliament and the EU Council for examination. If there are no objections, it will enter into force twenty days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
To see the delegated Regulation: https://aeur.eu/f/kkn (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)