The letter stresses that, despite their potential to contribute to decarbonisation, the deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Utilisation (CCU) remains slow, and urges the European Commission to develop an EU action plan for CCS. Without, EEW as a major operator of waste-to-energy plants in Europe cannot achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Commenting on the letter, Timo Poppe, EEW Group CEO said: In Germany, we stopped dumping untreated municipal waste in landfills in 2005, thus eliminating one of the largest sources of climate-damaging emissions and reducing a climate problem by a factor of 25 with thermal waste utilisation. Instead of methane at the landfill sites, CO2 is now being produced – one metric ton per metric ton of waste on average. And there are technological solutions for this last metric ton as well, and we at EEW are prepared to invest in them. What we need is a reliable framework in which we can implement carbon capture projects in an economically viable manner. As a co-signatory of the open letter, I appeal to the EU Commission to set the course for the industry.”
EEW Energy from Waste GmbH (EEW) is a leading company in the circular economy that not only treats waste but uses it as a valuable resource for energy and raw materials. At our 17 sites in Europe, we thermally utilise around 5 million tonnes of waste annually, provide process steam to the industry, district heat to municipalities and generate enough electricity to supply 700,000 households. In this way, we make a major contribution to climate protection and resource conservation. With more than 1,400 employees, we work hard to efficiently utilise the energy contained in waste, reduce waste volumes and lower CO2 emissions. To achieve climate neutrality, carbon capture at our plants will be decisive.