I am delighted to be able to share some of the project’s highlights with you as the first quarter of 2024 comes to a close. The Aramis project has welcomed many new faces over the last few months, and we are proud of the team that has been put together. All members have joined the team through one of our four project partners, and they bring a wide range of skills, experiences and perspectives to the table.

As the joint team is now almost complete, both at our office in The Hague and at the FEED contract office in the UK, we wanted to explore the team’s diversity and understand how that can become our collective strength. So, during our recent team day at the end of February, we took some time to reflect on organisational culture and the routines and work practices that are developing. It was also an opportune moment for deepening our understanding of each project partner and discussing the difference between cooperation and collaboration and what the various sub-teams need to be successful.

It was great to see that all team members actively participated in the discussions and exercises, whether in a plenary setting or in smaller groups. We would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to all participants once again for their contributions and making the day a great success. There was a lot of energy on display, which bodes well for the future! We all gained a stronger appreciation for the diverse backgrounds of the individual team members. The mix of perspectives and company cultures will certainly help us to deliver on our joint goal.

International CCS developments

It is also inspiring that CCS is gaining further international recognition and support as an effective decarbonisation strategy for industry. On 6 February, the European Commission (EC) published its first Industrial Carbon Management Strategy (ICMS) that focuses on CCS, CCU and negative emissions. As part of a comprehensive EU policy framework for achieving a new 2040 Climate Target (90% emissions reduction compared to 1990), the ICMS outlines goals and further policies to promote the speedy application of these three essential pillars for reaching climate targets. The ICMS also stresses the need for cooperation between the EU member states and cross-border CCS value chains. For more information, see the EU Industrial Carbon Management Strategy (europa.eu).

There are also encouraging developments by member states. For instance, on 26 February 2024, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) announced a framework for its first CCS strategy (‘Carbon Management Strategy’). In line with the EC plans, the German policy document stresses the need to use CCS in order to help industry decarbonise. Furthermore, the German government announced its intention to ratify the amendment to the London protocol (making cross-border CO₂ transport possible) and decided that CCS would be allowed in the territorial waters of Germany (not onshore). It also noted the need for German industry to connect to (and catch up with) international transport and storage projects currently underway. For more information, see BMWK - Minister Habeck intends to make it possible to use CCS: “Without CCS, there is no way we can reach our climate targets.”

In short, momentum is gaining for Aramis and CCS both inside the team and across Europe. So, it’s full speed ahead!

Annemarie Manger
Programme Director Aramis CCS