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Abstract: Europe, North America, Australia and other individual countries have certification and testing procedures for solar thermal equipment designed to support innovation and product development and to protect consumers from poor performance and unsafe designs. For the first time, as a result of the international coll aboration under the IEA-SHC Task 43 umbrella and the working groups of Solar Keymark Network, SRCC, ISO/TC180 and CEN/TC312, it has been possible to develop a common international standard draft for solar thermal collector testing. This paper describes in detail the new ISO/DIS 9806 standard and the relevant topics which clarify and refine existing test procedures or extend their scope: including solar air heating collector testing and tracking/concentrating collector testing. The new ISO/DIS 9806 standard opens the door to a global certification scheme for solar thermal collectors, thereby helping to overcome problems resulting from many different regional certification schemes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The recently started European FP7 Project InSun aims to demonstrate the reliability and efficiency of three different collector technologies suitable for industrial process heat supply in different climatic regions. The technologies demonstrated reach from improved flat-plate collectors for supply temperatures of up to 95°C in moderate northern Europe climate to tracked concentrating collectors (linear Fresnel collectors and parabolic trough collectors) for supply temperatures between 160 and 250°C in hot and dry Mediterranean climate in Italy and Spain. The main problem for a fast market development if this young and innovative technology is that a reliable performance of the production process has still a much higher priority for the industrial companies than energy savings reached. In consequence often only proven and standardized solutions are considered with payback times not longer than 3 to 5 years. Apart from the cost issue which changes with changing energy prices and the industrialization of the production process of the collectors, the reliability of the technology needs to be demonstrated. Here, intelligent control strategies for the integration in different industrial processes and methods for automated performance observations are required. These topics are given a high priority within the InSun project team with ZAFH-NET as coordinating research partner, EURAC as scientific research partner and Soltigua, Solid and Solera as industrial partners. This paper reports on the preliminary design of the three installations in terms of system layout, foreseen operating conditions and the industrial processes involved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The gain of Metal Wrap Through (MWT) cells and modules in comparison to standard modules has been extensively reported in the past. Most studies are limited to Standard Test Conditions (STC), and outdoor performance is not regarded. This paper studies the outdoor performance and energy yield of back contact foil based MWT modules in comparison to standard modules.A big advantage is the very low series resistance of the MWT modules; its influence on energy yield is simulated and compared to standard modules for different locations throughout Europe. It is shown that the gain at STC conditions is largely translated into a gain in the produced energy.The gain is confirmed by outdoor measurements on two locations in Europe. It is shown that the monthly performance ratios of the MWT and H-pattern modules do not differ and thus the gain at STC is a good measure for the eventual gain in energy yield. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Minor actinides constitute a significant contribution to the long term radiotoxicity of spent fuel. Their separation from spent fuel, fabrication and irradiation in homogeneous or heterogeneous reactor recycling modes provides a means to dramatically reduce their impact. Several challenges must be overcome in the separation and fabrication steps. Advanced robust fabrication processes are required to minimise dust and to produce fuels specifically designed to optimise their destruction through neutron irradiation. At the Institute for Transuranium Elements fabrication routes based on sol gel and infiltration have been developed to meet these demands. Dedicated fuels and targets have been produced and their irradiation behaviour is being tested. Fuels based on MOX and UO2 are being tested with respect to Gen IV fast reactor initiatives. Furthermore, dedicated minor actinide transmutation fuels based on the inert matrix concept (e.g. (Zr,Y,Am)O2 and Mo based (Pu,Am)O2 composite fuels) have been produced for application in the double strata concept, whereby the minor actinides should be transmuted in an ADS. Achievements and current status of these programmesare presented and discussed in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Fuels to be used in Accelerator Driven Systems dedicated to Minor Actinides transmutation can be described as highly innovative in comparison with those used in critical cores. Indeed, ADS fuels are not fertile, so as to improve the transmutation performance and they contain high volumetric concentrations (∼50%) of minor actinides and plutonium compounds. This unusual fuel composition results in high gamma and neutron emissions during its fabrication, as well as degraded performances under irradiation. Ceramic-Ceramic and Ceramic Metallic composite fuels consisting of particles of (Pu,MA)O2 phases dispersed in a magnesia or molybdenum matrix were investigated within the European Research programme for Transmutation, as driver fuels for a prospective 400MWth transmuter: the European Facility for Industrial Transmutation. Fuel performances and safety of preliminary core designs were evaluated to support the project. Out-of-pile as well as in-pile experiments were carried out to gain essential knowledge on properties and behaviour under irradiation of these types of fuel. This paper gives an overview of experimental results within the project. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper serves to highlight work completed within the EU FP7 CO2Europipe project, which aims to provide guidance to elements of an EU master plan for the development of large scale European CO2 infrastructure. In the last 5 years there have been some significant advancements in EU and international regulations that serve to facilitate CO2 transportation, however there is little guidance on how multi-user transport networks should be organized and financed. Poor planning and initial underinvestment in CO2 pipeline capacity can lead to inefficient networks and higher lifetime costs. Although shipping of CO2 may be a favourable transport option under certain circumstances, the monitoring and verification guidelines for this form of CO2 transportation are currently deficient. Cost estimates have been provided by industrial project members for CO2 pipelines (on/offshore), compression and shipping. Economies of scale are exhibited for pipelines, shipping and compression installations, however in order for operators to take advantage of economies of scale in pipelines, the intentions of governments regarding the regulation of tariffs for third-party network users need to be consolidated as soon as possible. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The large-scale development of carbon geological storage requires the safety demonstration of this technology. The European Directive on the geological storage of carbon dioxide specifies the safety strategy to be adopted. Notably, a corrective measure plan is required in order to mitigate the potential “significant irregularities”. In this paper, we describe one measure that could be applied in case of an unexpected abnormal behavior of the gas plume (e.g. leakage of CO2). The objective is to trap the mobile gaseous CO2 as quickly as possible; among all the trapping mechanisms occurring after CO2 injection, capillarity trapping is the fastest and we then focused on its enhancement and improvement. The intervention strategy consists in injecting brine through the former CO2 injection well in order to accelerate the wetting of the CO2 plume. We run simulations through a 1D-axisymetric model in order to evaluate the efficiency of such a measure; the results are sensitive towards brine injection rates and other site-specific key parameters but, in any case, the measure set-up leads to a rapid immobilization of the gaseous CO2 in comparison with a simple relaxation. The consequences of the pressure build-up in terms of hydraulic and mechanic risks are not critical in the base case simulation conditions and thus do not compromise the applicability of the corrective measure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The European CCS Demonstration Project Network was initiated by the European Commission in 2009. The main objective of the network is to accelerate development of CCS technologies by creating a forum for exchange and dissemination of new knowledge generated by the first large scale CCS plants in Europe. This paper provides an overview and understanding of the activities of the network and the political and theoretical context of their development. The paper focuses on how the Network has been structured to add value to demonstration projects and create vital new channels of information for enabling CCS demonstration and deployment to be advanced worldwide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper investigates how the European electricity generation system can meet deep cuts in CO2 emissions until the year 2050 with special focus on national conditions for CCS. An 85% reduction in CO2 emissions until 2050 is imposed. The analysis is carried out with a techno-economic model (minimizing the system cost) including a detailed description of the present stationary European electricity generation system (power plants) and potential CO2 storage sites as obtained from the Chalmers Energy Infrastructure Database. The modeling puts a cap on CO2 emissions from the system which gives a price on these emissions, i.e. similar to the effect of the European Emission Trading Scheme (EU-ETS), which is the main policy instrument for controlling GHG emissions within EU. Emphasize is put on analyzing turn-over in capital stock of the existing power plant infrastructure, timing of investments and the infrastructural implications of large scale introduction of CCS on a regional perspective, including the effect of investing in new transmission capacity between member states. The work compares two scenarios, one used in a previous work with significant growth in electricity consumption and one assuming that energy efficiency measures are successfully applied in line with the recent EU energy policy package. The results show that it is possible to meet an 85% CO2 reduction target by 2050 at a cost of some 50 to 80 € /ton CO2 over the period up to 2050, but this will require large contributions from CCS and electricity from renewable sources (mainly wind and biomass). Yet, without significant energy efficiency measures it is questionable if such large investments in generation technologies are feasible. Thus, to reach an 85% reduction in CO2 emissions from the electricity generation system by 2050 is not a matter of choice between different technologies and energy efficiency measures but all of these are required and the crucial point is if there will be a high enough price on CO2 emissions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The EU electricity market is changing. Electricity demand in Europe is on the rise, the power plant fleet is aging, and a large share of the capacity will need to be replaced in the coming decades. An ambitious target has been formulated for the share of renewable energy, and CO2 prices are anticipated to increase. On top of this, CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS) has appeared as an important technology in the transition to a long term sustainable energy supply. This paper discusses the implications all of the above developments for the EU electricity market, with an emphasis on the market North Western Europe. On the whole electricity prices in North Western Europe until 2020 are anticipated to increase, but this may only partly be ascribed to the pending introduction of CCS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper investigates conditions for a rapid ramp-up of a large-scale CO2 transport and storage infrastructure within the power and heat sector in EU’s Member States (MS). First, each MS is investigated individually with respect to the relevance of CCS in the power and heat sector. Second, the potential cost of CO2 transport and storage is evaluated and categorised into three levels for each MS with particular emphasis being put on power plant clusters, ownership concentration, source-sink distance and onshore storage potential. The chosen cost category for each member state is then used as input in a techno-economic modelling to evaluate the future electricity supply system in Europe as described elsewhere (Odenberger et al., 2008a). Finally, based on the modelling results, the study develops a detailed CO2 transportation and storage infrastructure for Germany and UK and discusses issues related to the ramp-up of such infrastructure. The analysis shows that most MS have identified structures that may be suitable for subsurface storage of CO2. Fourteen MS have so far identified onshore reservoirs only. Several MS have clusters of large power plants along with considerable national or regional concentration of plant ownership, factors that may both facilitate the ramp-up of a bulk CCS infrastructure. Phasing in of CCS plants over time will obviously play a key role in building up large-scale transport infrastructure. CCS plants are likely to be located on existing sites and coal plants currently under construction may choose to retrofit the plant for CCS instead of building new plants. CO2 pipeline trajectories are likely to follow existing trajectories for natural gas pipelines, minimising interference with the surroundings and facilitate and speed up permitting processes. Timing, conflicts of interest and public acceptance, especially onshore, are other factors that may become an issue with regard to transport and storage of CO2. According to model results, some 5.2 Gt CO2 is transported and stored in Germany between 2020 and 2050 while the corresponding figure in the UK is 3.7 Gt. Based on assumed injectivity, total system costs up to 2050 range between €18 and €23 billion in Germany and between €20 and €30 billion in the UK while specific costs range between €3.4 and €4.4 per ton of CO2 in Germany and between €5.4 and €8.1 in the UK. Finally, the modelling results indicate a rapid switch from gas based to coal based power generation with CCS. It is, however, likely that the large fuel switch from gas to coal will be moderated considerably by market dynamics and issues related to the fuel supply chain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper investigates the role of CO2 capture and storage (CCS) technologies as part of a portfolio for reducing CO2 emissions from the European electricity supply system until the year 2050. The analysis is carried out with a techno-economic model (minimizing the system cost) including a detailed description of the present stationary European electricity generation system (power plants) and potential CO2 storage sites as obtained from the Chalmers Energy Infrastructure Database. Since the ability of different EU Member States and regions to facilitate and to benefit from CCS will most likely depend on local conditions in terms of current energy mix, fuel supply chains and distance to suitable storage locations, special emphasize is put on analyzing turn-over in capital stock of the existing power plant infrastructure, timing of investments and the infrastructural implications of large scale introduction of CCS on a regional perspective. The paper discusses the role of and requirements on CCS for meeting strict emission targets of 85% reduction while having a continued growth in electricity demand (according to EU projections). The results show that it is possible to meet an 85% CO2 reduction target by 2050, but this will require large contribution from CCS. As expected, regions which are currently high in carbon intensity and which are located nearby suitable storage sites will benefit mostly from CCS as an option. With the assumption that CCS will be commercially available in 2020 the model results give a steep ramp-up in the use of CCS post 2020 which imposes challenges for timely investments in corresponding CCS infrastructure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The importance of public acceptance of CCS has been highlighted by developers and policy makers, with all emphasising that it is a fundamental factor in the future success of CCS. However, little research has been done so far on NGO positioning on CCS. The current debate in Europe, with discussion beginning to result in both real projects on the ground and in real policies, has put NGOs more and more into a position of making open stands. This has resulted in a diversity of viewpoints, and the controv ersy has polarized opinions. In this paper we review our own research on NGO opinions on CCS, to spell out their most important concerns. We discuss NGO positioning vis-à-vis the ongoing negotiations of a legislative proposal to regulate CCS in Europe. Finally, we consider whether it is possible to come to more coherent approaches and agreements in a way that maximizes their effectiveness both as a counterweight to, and partner of, other stakeholders and governments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents results from a survey on stakeholder attitudes towards Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The survey is the first to make a global comparison across three major regions; USA, Japan, and Europe. The 30-question survey targeted individuals working at stakeholder organizations that seek to shape, and will need to respond to, policy on CCS, including electric utilities, oil & gas companies, CO2-intensive industries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The results show generally small differences across the regions and between the different groups of stakeholders. All believed that the challenge of significant reductions in emissions using only current technologies was severe. There is a widespread belief both that renewable technologies such as solar power and CCS will achieve major market entry into the electricity sector within the next 10 to 20 years, whereas there is more skepticism about the role of hydrogen and especially nuclear fusion in the next 50 years. All groups were generally positive towards renewable energy. Yet, there were some notable areas of disagreement in the responses, for example, as expected, NGOs considered the threat of climate change to be more serious than the other groups. North Americans respondents were more likely to downplay the threat compared to those of the other regions. The Japanese were more concerned about the burden that would be placed on industry in the coming decade as a result of emissions constraints and NGOs were more likely to believe that the burden would be light or very light. NGOs believed CCS to be far more attractive than nuclear fusion power but much less than renewables. As expected, the risk for leakage from reservoirs was ranked number one of the risk options given. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]