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International audience; CO2GeoNet, the European Network of Excellence on CO2 geological storage, was created in 2004 as an EU PF6 project and became an association in 2008. The Association strives to enable efficient and safe CO2 storage in deep geological formations to combat climate change and ocean acidification. With a current membership of 26 research institutes spanning 19 European countries, activities include research, scientific advice, training, information & communication. CO2GeoNet, as a pan-European scientific body, has a valuable and independent role to play in enabling the deployment of the CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technology, when and where it is needed in Europe and in other parts of the World. CO2GeoNet is highly active on the international scene, through a cooperation agreement with IEAGHG and the Global CCS Institute, as a CSLF recognized network and a Liaison organization in the ISO CCS Technical Committee, and as a UNFCCC accredited Research NGO (RINGO).The COP21 Climate Conference in Paris in December 2015 was an important milestone and CO2GeoNet was deeply involved, both before and after this conference, in bringing the science behind CO2 storage and the rationale for CCS to a wide range of stakeholders including the general public. The main outcomes of these events will be presented, focusing on key messages.

The CASTOR (“ CO2 from Capture to Storage” ) WP 1.2 is building on the results of the successful GESTCO project – European Potential for the Geological Storage of CO2 from Fossil Fuel Combustion, where the primary aim was to determine whether the geological storage of carbon dioxide captured at large industrial plants is a viable method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions capable of widespread application in Europe. New information is identified and collated from Eastern Europe and nations not covered by GESTCO. It is carried out by gathering CO2 emission data and by evaluating CO2 storage potential of saline aquifers, geothermal reservoirs, coal seams and hydrocarbon reservoirs. As another goal of the CASTOR project the CO2 storage GIS for Europe and the Decision Support System (DSS) – created during the GESTCO project to serve as an economic analysis tool for CO2 storage in Europe – is extended by data from a number of new member and candidate countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia. The total emission of CO2 in the above mentioned countries is estimated to be above 700 Mt/y, which significantly contributes to the CO2 emitted by whole Europe. Almost half of the emitted carbon dioxide comes from Poland (>300 Mt/y). The emission of Romania, the Czech Republic (128 Mt/y), Bulgaria (92 Mt/y) and Hungary (79.5 Mt/y) are the highest among the participating countries, whereas the contribution of Slovakia (42 Mt/y), Croatia (28 Mt/y) and Slovenia (20 Mt/y) are lower. Most of the emitted CO2 derives from the energy industry (>50%) through the combustion of fossil fuels and coal. Although in some cases the emission of CO2 has temporarily decreased due to reclassification of the industry, the increasing energy consumption and the frequently experienced low energy efficiency production is due to significantly increase CO2 emission of these countries. It has been shown before, but now it can be more emphasized, that individual countries could make a significant reduction in CO2 pollution by capturing the emission of their major point sources, hence the participation of the new member and candidate countries in the CASTOR project has given an exclusive opportunity to evaluate the first systematic assemblage of data on CO2 emission and potential storage capacity, which were previously confidential and were treated as secret information.