CCS+ is a leading global initiative to develop rigorous carbon accounting standards to underpin the carbon management economy
LONDON, United Kingdom (September 28, 2023) – enfinium, a leading UK energy from waste operator, today is the first UK-based energy from waste business to join the CCS+ Initiative and will support the group’s development of robust carbon accounting methodologies to underpin the growing voluntary carbon credit market, as well as serve as a foundation for evolving compliance markets.
As the first UK-based energy from waste operator to join CCS+, enfinium is leading the sector globally. Energy from waste will play a significant role meeting growing demand for carbon removals over the coming decades because it will continue to manage the millions of tonnes of unrecyclable biodegradable waste society produces.
The first initiative of its kind, CCS+ is a global, multi-stakeholder alliance, that includes some of the largest Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and technical carbon removal developers in the world. Set up to scale cutting edge climate technologies in carbon capture, utilisation, removal and storage, CCS+ pools the expertise of its membership to develop robust carbon accounting practices to encourage investment in carbon reduction and removal technologies and accelerate their adoption across voluntary and compliance markets.
Both the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the UK’s Climate Change Committee say that CCS technology is vital to reach net zero emissions.1 Annual global demand for long-term carbon removals is estimated to reach between 40 and 200 Mt CO2 by 2030, outstripping the expected supply of 15 to 32 Mt CO2 in the same period.2
In the UK, the energy from waste sector has the potential to capture up to 20Mtpa of CO2 by 2050, of which around 10 Mtpa would be durable, high quality carbon removals supported by permanent offshore geological storage.3
As a member of CCS+, enfinium joins a group of global leaders in the carbon management space, from large industrial players to innovative start-ups. CCS+ is overseen by a range of independent academics and industry associations including the Global CCS Institute, IETA, ICROA, and IFC, as part of the Advisory Group.
Mike Maudsley, CEO of enfinium, said: “Carbon capture is an essential ingredient of net zero. This will require a mature voluntary carbon credits market, underpinned by robust data and accounting practices. The work of CCS+ is central to developing the framework needed to encourage investment.
The energy from waste sector will play a significant role in meeting global demand for durable, high quality carbon removals. Despite our best efforts, there will always be millions of tonnes of unrecyclable waste that needs to be managed. Energy from waste with carbon capture can maximise the value of this waste by generating carbon negative energy and taking carbon emissions out of the atmosphere.”
Christiaan Gevers Deynoot and Matthias Krey, co-leads of the CCS+ Initiative, said: “We are delighted to welcome enfinium as industry partner in the CCS+ initiative. The initiative, which is a collaborative endeavour between major players in the industrial carbon management space, will greatly benefit from their expertise in the waste to energy sector. We look forward to developing together the carbon accounting ‘infrastructure’ fit for the future carbon management economy.”
For more information get in touch with:
Will Melling, Apella Advisors
Mobile: +44 (0) 7763 749563
Email: enfinium@apellaadvisors.com
Statistical Information
1 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2022 report requires the deployment of CCS in its modelled pathways to limit warming to 1.5°C and that “global rates of CCS deployment are far below those in modelled pathways limiting global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C” (IPCC, “Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change”, p. 28, April 2022, available here). The UK’s Climate Change Committee predict engineered emissions removals of 58 MtCO2/year are required by 2050 (Climate Change Committee, “Sixth Carbon Budget”, p. 197, December 2020, available here).
2 Boston Consulting Group, “The Time for Carbon Removal Has come”, September 2023, available here.
3 Energy Systems Catapult, “Energy from Waste Plants with Carbon Capture”, May 2020, available here.
About enfinium
enfinium is one of the largest energy from waste businesses in the UK and is an industry leader in the conversion of unrecyclable residential and business waste into heat and partially renewable power. enfinium currently has a platform of six (two in construction) strategically located facilities across the UK. Today, enfinium has an annual waste processing capacity of over 2.3 million tonnes, and a total combined electric generating capacity of 265MW (gross) — enough energy to power more than 500,000 UK homes. For more on enfinium, please visit www.enfinium.co.uk.
About CCS+ Initiative
The CCS+ Initiative aims to scale cutting edge climate technologies by developing a robust carbon accounting infrastructure that promotes environmental integrity. As a global, multi-stakeholder alliance, it boasts a unique representation of technology and solution providers, large CO2 emitters, professional service providers, academia, and civil society.
Through 2024-2025, the CCS+ Initiative aims to have its methodologies published under the VCS as a public good, enabling their use across voluntary carbon markets. It may also serve as a foundation to accelerate the adoption of carbon capture, utilization, removal and storage activities in compliance markets.
For more information, please visit https://www.ccsplus.org/ and follow the CCS+ Initiative on LinkedIn.
