Maintain CATO Innovation Cluster 2016-17

Publieke samenvatting / Public summary

Summary

Along with reducing energy use and transitioning to renewable sources, CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) is seen as an important way ato cut CO2 emissions. For large CO2 emitters like the power utilities and heavy industry, CCUS is seen as prerequisite to reduce their CO2 emissions. The Netherlands has a long history of involvement in CCUS-related R&D with the CATO and CATO-2 programmes. These programmes drove the development of an active CCUS knowledge network to prepare for and support the large-scale rollout of CCUS. 

Project results included the integration of two previous CATO websites into one website that was kept up-to-date. New parties were attracted to the CATO programme and ties with existing ones were strengthened. Various closed and open meetings were organised, and visits and participation in foreign consortia to strengthen international contacts.

Background

Top Sectors are areas in which the Dutch business community and research centres excel. The business community, universities, research centres and government work together on knowledge and innovation to strengthen this position further. Within each Top Sector, the parties have joined forces in Top Consortia for Knowledge and Innovation (TKI). The TKI New Gas covers a number of primary topics, including CCUS, which was added in 2013. Within the CCUS field, this position is being expanded with the addition of CO2 utilisation.

Project objective

The ongoing, multi-year maintain project focuses on maintaining and strengthening the CATO innovation cluster. Goals for this time period included supporting the implementation of a CCS demo (the Rotterdam ROAD project) and follow-up large-scale implementation and, more broadly, ensuring that the CATO innovation cluster maintained its strong position worldwide, continued to focus R&D on the most relevant research issues, and captured Dutch and international opportunities as they arose.

Project results

The two previous CATO websites were integrated into one website and kept up-to-date. New parties were attracted to the CATO programme and ties with existing ones were strengthened. Various closed and open meetings were organised, with highlights including a Socratic debate titled “CCS Multitool or Multi-headed dragon”, an event about reducing the carbon footprint of the steel industry, various events with presentations by Dutch and international CCUS projects, and visits and participation in foreign consortia to strengthen international contacts.