CCSA strengthens European leadership with appointment of new Board members

• CCSA appoints new Board members with a wealth of European CCUS industry expertise.
• Strengthened leadership will enhance the Association’s European engagement, knowledge sharing and cross-border CCUS offer.
• New appointments position the CCSA to better support members as CO₂ capture, transport and storage markets expand rapidly across Europe.

London, [5 December] – The Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) today announced the appointment of five new Board members, significantly strengthening the Association’s European expertise as it continues to expand its EEA / UK focus and international engagement.

The new Board members, representing large European CCUS projects, bring extensive experience in business policy, regulation, cross-border CO₂ transport and storage, and the development of CCUS markets across the EU.

Their collective insight will be instrumental in guiding the CCSA’s strategic direction at a time when European climate legislation is driving unprecedented demand for CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure.

This enhanced leadership reflects the CCSA’s commitment to shaping Europe’s evolving CCUS landscape and supporting industries to decarbonise, produce low-carbon products and remain competitive across both the EEA and the UK.

Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, said:

“As CCUS deployment accelerates across both the EEA and the UK, there is an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen collaboration and ensure industry is equipped to meet growing demand for CO₂ transport and storage. Our new Board members bring a wealth of European expertise that will enhance the CCSA’s ability to support members on both sides of the Channel, engage effectively with policymakers, and help position Europe as a global leader in the CCUS market.”

New Board members:

• Phil Hemmens, Special Advisor, Eni [global integrated energy company, with an Italian head office]
• Pieter Tavenier, Director Business Line CCS, N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie [European energy infrastructure company, headquartered in The Netherlands]
• Paolo Testini, Director CCS and Carbon Removal Projects Development, Snam [Italian infrastructure company that operates natural gas transport, storage, and regasification networks]
• Simon Willis, CEO, Heidelberg Materials UK, [supplier of lower carbon heavy building materials to the construction industry, headquartered in Germany]
• Ralph Windeatt*, Group Head of Business Development, ABP [Group of 21 UK ports]

*Re-elected

Mark Sommerfeld, UK Director of the CCSA said:

“The CCSA welcomes GBE’s Strategic Plan, setting out a long-term vision for unlocking the UK’s future energy system. We look forward to working closely with GBE to help deliver a secure, reliable and low-carbon power system. Achieving this will require the full range of clean energy solutions, and CCUS has a vital role to play in providing firm low-carbon power as well as supporting the wider decarbonisation of UK industry. We particularly welcome GB Energy’s focus on strengthening domestic supply chains. The development of CCUS projects presents significant investment opportunities to grow UK content and deliver new regional jobs and economic growth. CCSA looks forward to working with GBE to ensure the investment needed to scale up CCUS is rapidly unlocked and the UK’s capability fully realised.”

To ensure that the UK is able to deliver clean power and energy security, we need to see projects like H2Teesside deployed, however we recognise the reasons for the development not to go ahead given the material change in circumstances. It is encouraging that bp remains committed to other projects in the region, including Net Zero Teesside (NZT) Power and the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP), and continues to be an active partner in the region.

Following the announcement, CCSA CEO Olivia Powis said: “Projects like H2Teesside are essential for providing low-carbon hydrogen to power industries and help deliver on our climate commitments. It is positive that bp remains committed to other key projects in the region, including Net Zero Teesside (NZT) Power and the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP), and continues to be an active partner in the region.

As emerging sectors like AI and data-centres grow – along with their increasing demands on the energy system – government must provide clear policies and timely planning decisions to give investors the confidence to advance low-carbon projects. Technologies such as CCUS and hydrogen are vital to providing low-carbon power, as well as delivering clean growth and industrial renewal”