CCSA appoints new UK Director to support the deployment of CCUS industry
– Mark Sommerfeld has been appointed as CCSA UK Director, starting in December 2024, following nine years at the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA).
– Mark has considerable experience of Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage (CCUS), particularly Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS).
– Mark’s appointment bolsters the trade association’s mission to see CCUS developed at pace across the UK.
[London, 11 November] – Mark Sommerfeld has been appointed as UK Director of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) and will start in December, following Olivia Powis’s appointment as CEO in September 2024.
Mark brings 13 years of experience in the energy sector and will lead the CCSA’s work on the commercial deployment of large-scale integrated CCUS Clusters and projects across the UK.
During his time at the REA, Mark supported the development of Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), working across biomass power, energy from waste and anaerobic digestion sectors, and brings considerable expertise to the CCSA on the need to deploy these important technologies to combat climate change.
Mark joins at a critical time for the CCUS industry, which is on the cusp of deploying projects in the UK. The Government’s funding commitment in October for the first two CCUS clusters in the North West and North East of England will see CO2 emissions reduced from industrial processes, hydrogen and low carbon power generation. These projects will also create thousands of new highly skilled jobs and protect thousands of existing jobs in critical industries like cement, chemicals and manufacturing.
The UK Government has confirmed that CCUS is essential to meeting our net zero targets, and the Climate Change Committee (CCC) has recommended that the UK’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commits to reduce territorial greenhouse gas emissions by 81% from 1990 to 2035. Both are important as governments and stakeholders head to Baku for COP29 to discuss emissions reduction.
The CCSA has been working with the Government to secure the UK’s position as a world leader in CCUS and low carbon hydrogen production, and to meet the CCC’s target of 20-30 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 captured and stored by 2030, rising to 50-60 Mt by 2035. The appointment of Mark as UK Director provides the trade association with additional expertise and experience to drive forward CCUS to decarbonise the UK’s industrial heartlands, deliver energy security and create jobs in a new low-carbon economy.
Mark Sommerfeld said:
“After more than a decade working alongside a wide range of renewable energy developers and operators, I am thrilled to join the CCSA at such a pivotal time. Achieving net zero demands a comprehensive approach, including carbon capture and carbon removal technologies, alongside low-carbon generation. As such, I am excited to build on my experience to help deliver this critical sector.”
“With recent Government commitments, the UK continues to lead carbon capture deployment. Scaling this technology will drive decarbonisation across key industrial sectors while unlocking significant economic benefits—creating jobs, enhancing skills, and advancing clean growth across the UK.”
“I look forward to working with our members, the Government, and stakeholders to accelerate deployment and reach the ambitious net zero targets essential to our climate and economy.”
Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA said:
“We are thrilled to have Mark join us. He brings considerable energy sector experience to bolster our team of experts, all of whom are committed to tackling climate change and seeing CCUS developed at pace to decarbonise British industries.”
“With the UK CCUS industry at an exciting point in its development, Mark will no doubt have a significant impact on the CCSA’s important work supporting our members to rollout this important net zero transition technology.”
Notes to Editors
Mark Sommerfeld Biography
Mark joins the CCSA after serving as Deputy Director of Policy at the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA). Mark has 13 years experience in the energy sector, spanning energy supply and voluntary carbon trading, alongside advocating for a diverse range of renewable and low-carbon technologies.
At the REA, Mark led policy efforts on bioenergy carbon capture and storage, working across biomass power, energy from waste, and anaerobic digestion sectors. Mark spearheaded the REA’s advocacy for greenhouse gas removal initiatives, Power BECCS, and Industrial Carbon Capture business models, and the REA’s work on the development of the UK Biomass Strategy
During Mark’s career, he has sat on multiple government-industry task forces across energy and infrastructure topics, is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and an alumni of Cambridge University and Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.
About the CCSA
CCUS, or Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage, is a key low carbon solution – vital to meeting the UK’s statutory Net Zero target at least cost. CCUS enables industrial decarbonisation as well as the production of clean power, clean products (such as cement and chemicals) and clean hydrogen – which can also be used to decarbonise industry. In addition, CCUS also enables greenhouse gas removal from the atmosphere through Direct Air Capture with Storage (DACS) or Bioenergy with CCS (BECCS).
The CCSA is the trade association accelerating the commercial deployment of CCUS, with offices in the UK and Belgium. We work with members, governments and other organisations to ensure CCUS is developed and deployed at the pace and scale necessary to meet net zero goals and deliver sustainable growth across regions and nations.
The CCSA currently has over 120 member companies who are active in exploring and developing different applications of carbon capture and removals, CO2 transportation by pipeline and ship, utilisation, geological storage, and other permanent storage solutions, end-users in the power, industry, waste management, fuels, and hydrogen production sectors, plus supply chain, engineering, construction and management, legal and financial consulting sectors.
For media enquiries please email press@ccsassociation.org
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