Standards Development

Scope

• Create a standard for CDR certificate accounting

o Carbon accounting will consider the full process chain from biomass sourcing to permanent storage of CO2

• Carbon accounting for CCS applications that fall under ETS will be created by CEN-CENELEC (CEN NWIP Carbon dioxide quantification and verification for CCS). CDRs will be realized by the same process chains as CO2 storage for application that fall under ETS. Additionally, CDRs will also need to apply to carbon accounting requirements imposed by CDR methodologies. These CDR methodologies ensure the generation of CDR credits towards clients of CDR certificates. Alignment between CDR carbon accounting by the CDR methodologies (such as CRCF or on the voluntary market) and ETS related carbon accounting of CCS will result in increased standardization of the CCS process chain.

o Context: The permanent CDR (DACCS & BECCS) market is expected to be initiated in the voluntary carbon market. For companies to trade permanent CDR certificates on the voluntary carbon market, they have to adhere to a CDR methodology verified by an independent company (such as Verra of Puro Earth). These methodologies aim to standardize the carbon accounting. To prevent conflict between these multiple standards and methodologies, it is beneficial to align the carbon accounting requirements resulting in reduced efforts in measurements or accounting administration. Having a standardized methodology will enable technology and project developers to trade CDR certificates on the voluntary carbon market. Additionally, these standards will also enable buyers to make informed and transparent choices while purchasing CDR certificates. The latter is especially applicable as long as CRCF is not yet completed.

• Define permanent CDR technologies (DACCS & BECCS).

o This will at a minimum be on the definition of the term. It is to be evaluated if it is beneficial to perform a technological assessment.

• Measurement and traceability of biogenic CO2

• Set up requirements to the CDR process chain accounting. Consider to refer to other standards. The requirements will consider the following:

o Contribution to Climate mitigation

o Co-benefits and Trade-offs or potential side effects

o Sustainability

o Social responsibility

o Safety

Purpose

Purpose

eek to standardise bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) & direct air carbon capture & storage (DACCS) technologies, processes and accounting methods to realise Carbon Dioxide Removals (CDRs) certificates. Secure how CDR are quantified, taking into account the full process chain. In case of BECCS, the process chain is defined as the biomass sourcing, the CO2 capture & conditioning process from bio-energy- based power & heat, CO2 transport and geological storage as well as the sales of CDR certificates. In case of DACCS, the process chain is defined as the capture & conditioning process from direct air capture, CO2 transport and geological storage as well as sales of CDR certificates. This includes embedded emissions in setting up the capture & conditioning plant.

Justification

CDR technologies are increasingly seen as a valuable contribution to reach the Paris agreement. The IPCC includes CDR in many scenario’s to net zero. And the EU expressed the need for CDR to meet the recently announced 2040 CO2 reduction target. Various initiatives explore developing CDR solutions and CDR certificates are already traded on voluntary carbon markets. The European Union explores how CDR technologies could be included in the ETS system and is already working on the CRCF methodology. All these developments warrant the creation of a standard on the quantification of the realised CDR through applicable technologies.

Elements to be included

• Direct Air Capture (DAC)

• Bio-energy with carbon capture, including the capture of CO2 from biomass combustion (direct or indirect including waste incineration plants) or biofuel production processes (e.g., biogas or ethanol production)

• Transport activities include intermediate storage facilities and transport by pipeline, ship/barge, rail, and trucks

• Storage in saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas reservoirs

• Capture activities must result in a concentrated CO2 stream of at least 95% purity delivered to the storage site for geological storage that can currently be achieved by employing

o Chemical or physical absorption or adsorption, with liquid solvents or solid sorbents (e.g., amines)

o Membrane processes

o Electrochemical processes

o Cryogenic processes

• CO2 conditioning for transport, including if required liquefaction by compression or refrigeration Not included:

• Utilization captured CO2 as a feedstock for products or services

• Capture and store CO2 through nature based solutions, such as enhanced weathering, carbon mineralization, biochar production, or ocean alkalinity enhancement;

• CO2 storage for enhanced oil or gas production