Contribution of waste-to-energy plants to reducing CO₂ emissions

Question for written answer  E-000670/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Henna Virkkunen (PPE)

The Commission’s long-term strategic vision for climate neutrality, published in 2018, relies on tackling remaining CO₂ emissions with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. The vision states that more research, innovation and demonstration efforts are needed to ensure the successful deployment of CCS.

In order to attract investment in research and development and the eventual deployment of this technology, more policy support and regulatory certainty is needed. Within Europe, some promising deployment projects are already under way, such as a new waste-to-energy plant in Oslo, which will capture and permanently store CO₂.

• 1.Can the Commission confirm that waste-to-energy plants equipped with carbon capture facilities are theoretically capable of removing CO₂ from the atmosphere? If so, will it encourage the Member States to take this potential into account when drawing up national energy and climate plans?
• 2.What other legislative or non-legislative measures is it planning to take to encourage the deployment of CCS technologies?