SiteChar is a European research project dedicated to the characterisation of sites for geological CO2 storage - one of the key elements of the CCS technology, which enables the capture and storage of carbon dioxide. At the end of the SiteChar project, a methodological guide will be developed for use by storage site operators and administrative bodies in the roll-out of geological storage of CO2 on an industrial scale. The SiteChar project was launched in January 2011 and is scheduled to last three years.

CCS is one of the key technologies for decarbonising the energy sector in Europe. The SiteChar project covers the entire site characterisation chain related to geological storage of CO2, from initial concepts through to storage licensing.

The conference, hosted by Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo, will bring together representatives of the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Economy, the Oil and Gas Institute, the State Mining Authority, as well as representatives of the international SiteChar project consortium. The conference will be an opportunity to present the project's achievements to date, prospects of CCS development in Poland, activities of the European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants (ZEP), as well as the experience and accomplishments of SiteChar partners regarding the clean coal technology.

Coordinated by IFP Energies nouvelles, the project brings together partners from research and industry, as well as the consultancy sector: AGH, ECN, ENEL, GEUS, GFZ, IMPERIAL, NERC, OGS, PGNiG, Statoil, TNO, SINTEF-PR, UniRoma1-CERI, UfU, Vattenfall and the Scottish Government. The project receives financial support from Veolia Environnement and Gassnova. The SiteChar project has a total budget of EUR 5 million, of which EUR 3.7 million is a European Commission grant.

The research is focused on five potential storage sites in Europe, representative of various geological contexts. These include: a North Sea offshore hydrocarbon field and aquifer in Scotland, an onshore aquifer in Denmark, the Załęcze and Żuchlów gas field in Poland, an offshore aquifer in Norway and, finally, an aquifer in the Adriatic Sea.

For more information on the SiteChar project, visit: http://www.sitechar-co2.eu/

Joanna Zakrzewska

Spokesperson for PGNiG SA