World's first standard for deep-earth storage of industrial carbon emissions to be developed by CSA Standards and IPAC-CO2 Research

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TORONTO, June 16 /PRNewswire/ - CSA Standards, a leading developer of standards, codes and personnel certification programs, and the International Performance Assessment Centre for the geologic storage of Carbon Dioxide (IPAC-CO2 Research Inc.) today announced a joint agreement to develop Canada's first carbon capture and storage (CCS) standard for the geological storage of industrial emissions. Upon completion, the new CCS standard will be submitted to the Standards Council of Canada for recognition, making it the world's first formally recognized CCS standard in this area. The new standard will then be used as a basis for the promotion of international standards.

"CSA Standards welcomes the opportunity to work with IPAC-CO2 to help facilitate and support the growth of Canadian and international best practices, standards and tools for the mitigation of risk in the geological storage of carbon dioxide," said Bonnie Rose, president, CSA Standards. "This cooperative process will help provide for and advance global expertise in the risk assessment of geological CO2 storage projects. This new standard means that Canada can be a world leader in carbon capture and storage, and we hope that the world will embrace our approach."

This new standard will provide essential guidelines for regulators, industry and others around the world involved with scientific and commercial CCS projects. Coal, natural gas and oil will remain the world's dominant sources of energy over the next several decades continuously adding to global greenhouse gas emissions. On a global scale, approximately 31-billion tons of CO2 are emitted per year into the atmosphere(1). The International Energy Agency (IEA) has urged a quick and global push to develop and deploy carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

"This is one small but very important step for us to gain public and regulator confidence in the geological storage of CO2 as a sustainable energy and environmental option," said Carmen Dybwad, chief executive officer of IPAC-CO2 Research Inc. "We're very excited to work jointly with CSA Standards, a not-for-profit membership-based association which has served industry, government and consumers in Canada and the global marketplace since 1919,"

CCS is a process consisting of the separation of CO2 from industrial and energy-related sources, transport to a storage location and long-term isolation from the atmosphere. Scientists estimate carbon capture units can be used to reduce emissions from industrial plants by 85 to 95 per cent(2). CCS is recognized as a key way to mitigate greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. It can also be used commercially to assist in oil recovery projects. The new standard will focus primarily on the long-term geological storage of CO2 deep underground.

"We welcome this important initiative," said Paal Frisvold, project leader of the Bellona Environment CCS Team. "This is the first of its kind in the world and will become a key contribution to designing policies and mechanisms to enhance the acceleration of CCS deployment in other parts of the world."

The Bellona Foundation is an international environmental NGO based in Norway. Founded in 1986 as a direct action protest group, Bellona has become a recognized technology and solution-oriented organization with offices in Oslo, Brussels, Washington D.C., St. Petersburg and Murmansk.

Large-scale international CCS research pilot projects are being tested and studied in various areas of Canada and the world. Significant projects have been underway in Saskatchewan and British Columbia for several years. A top priority for CCS research is the confirmation that geological CO2 storage is safe, reliable and an environmentally beneficial practice for the long-term. Although research projects have been underway for several years, currently there are no formally recognized national or international standards for the long-term storage of CO2. Standards are needed to help ensure risks are identified and addressed.

CSA Standards has extensive experience in developing international environmental and carbon dioxide management standards. On behalf of the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), CSA Standards manages the Secretariat for the committee that developed the ISO 14000 environmental management and ISO 14064 climate change standards.

IPAC-CO2 is designed to meet a public and regulatory need in the global CCS chain by providing an independent performance assessment of geological storage of carbon dioxide. Carbon capture and storage technology has been identified by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as one of the most promising near-term technologies for the rapid reduction of global CO2 emissions.

(1) University of Regina, Office of Energy and Environment. http://www.uregina.ca/oee/faq/

(2) University of Regina, Office of Energy and Environment. http://www.uregina.ca/oee/media/pdf/UofR-CCS-Brochure.pdf

About CSA Standards

CSA Standards is a leading standards-based solutions organization serving industry, government, consumers and other interested parties in North America and the global marketplace. Focusing on standards and codes development, application products, training, advisory and personnel certification services, the organization aims to enhance public safety, improve quality of life, preserve the environment and facilitate trade. CSA Standards is a division of CSA Group, which also consists of CSA International, which provides testing and certification services for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and a variety of other products; and OnSpeX, a provider of consumer product evaluation, inspection and advisory services for retailers and manufacturers. For more information visit www.csa.ca

About IPAC-CO2

IPAC-CO2 Research Inc., the International Performance Assessment Centre for the Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide, is a not-for-profit research and development organization committed to providing independent, objective information, best practices, advice and assessments to governments, industry and the public. IPAC-CO2 was created through the efforts of Royal Dutch Shell, the Government of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina. With over 20 years of experience in developing CCS technology, the University of Regina is providing a base for the Secretariat. For more information, visit www.ipac-co2.com

A social media release including images and video clips is available at http://smr.newswire.ca/en/csa-standards/deep-earth-storage-of-industrial-carbon-emissions

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SOURCE CSA Standards