17 12 2024

ARAMIS JOINT TASK FORCE SHOWS THE BENEFITS OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATION

The Aramis Joint Task Force, led by the Dutch Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth, successfully concluded this autumn. The collaboration between the ministry, the Aramis project and the Eni, Shell and TotalEnergies storage projects has identified various bottlenecks for the development of the Aramis value chain while proposing potential measures. What are they? And what are the next steps?

Expert opinion: Professor Mulder

In our June newsletter, Programme Director Annemarie Manger discussed Professor Mulder’s Expert Opinion on the Market Organisation of Carbon Capture and Storage. Following this report, the Ministry of Climate Policy and Green Growth established a joint task force with various market parties from the Aramis value chain. Its goals are to identify risks for timely realisation of the wider value chain (including emitters) and to explore public and private measures to mitigate the challenges.

Identifying risks and bottlenecks, and exploring potential measures in partnership with the ministry

Complex challenges
Aramis is a large-scale project that necessitates simultaneous investment decisions from multiple parties. This presents complex challenges, such as possible delays caused by inadequate coordination between subprojects and complications within the permitting process. Additionally, there is a concern regarding ‘utilisation risk’, where the capacity that is to be developed might not be yet fully utilised. Rising costs also present a challenge, as they can render transport and storage fees unaffordable for some companies, hindering their participation.

Public vs private measures
The task force explored potential solutions to these and other challenges and discussed the division of responsibilities between government and market parties. In this context, distinguishing between public and private measures is crucial. Public measures focus on government support for the value chain in line with its climate and industry policies. This might include expediting permitting procedures, supporting emitters that have committed themselves at an early stage and possibly covering the utilisation risk. Private measures involve actions that market parties can undertake independently, such as improving coordination between them and exploring options to make the system more affordable for industry.

A strong example of effective public-private collaboration

Effective public-private collaboration
Private measures are a prerequisite for any public intervention. The Aramis team is currently assessing which measures to implement to mitigate or prevent identified risks. In its 2025 Spring Memorandum, the government will specify additional measures it wants to implement. This collaborative approach exemplifies effective public-private dialogue and collaboration and has garnered recognition at the European level. The European Commission has recently recommended that every CCS project in Europe establish a task force to determine the requirements for developing successful value chains.