New Global Network Links Geological Storage of CO2 Research in 8 Countries

REGINA, May 12 /CNW/ - The International Performance Assessment Centre for Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide (IPAC-C02) has established a global network linking organizations in eight countries which conduct research into the geological storage of carbon dioxide.

The global network will grow from regional centres IPAC-CO2 has in:

    
    -   Africa - South African National Energy Research Institute (SANERI);
    -   Australia - Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas
        Technologies (CO2CRC);
    -   Brazil - Brazilian Carbon Storage Research Center;
    -   Canada - Carbon Management Canada, whose membership include
        University of Regina, University of Alberta, Dalhousie University and
        18 other Canadian universities;
    -   China - North China Electric Power University;
    -   Europe - Imperial College in London, England;
    -   India - The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI);
    -   USA - Colorado Energy Resource Institute (CERI).
    

IPAC - C02 is designed to meet a public and regulatory need in the global Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) chain by providing an independent performance assessment of geological storage of carbon dioxide.

Carbon capture and storage 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.

IPAC-CO2 was established at the University of Regina in 2009 with $14 million in funding from the Government of Saskatchewan, Royal Dutch Shell and the Government of Canada.

"These regional centres are the primary mechanism to advance Carbon Capture and Storage work on six continents," said Dr. Carmen Dybwad, who was named Chief Executive Officer of IPAC-CO2 in April.

"We'll be meeting face to face with representatives of the regional centres following the 5th IEA GHG Risk Assessment Network meeting in Golden, Colorado on May 19. We'll learn about our collective experience and strengths so we can develop a plan to help realize the potential of an emerging CCS value chain from an independent perspective."

Dybwad succeeds Dr. Malcolm Wilson, Director of the Office and Energy and Environment at the University of Regina and a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, who had been IPAC-CO2's acting CEO since the not-for-profit organization was established. He remains with the organization as a managing director.

For further information: Joe Ralko, IPAC-CO2, Regina, Canada, [phone] office, [phone] cell, [email protected]