The study “The Future of Coal: Clean Coal Technolo- gies and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)” by Dr Frank Umbach addresses the global and European dimensions of CCS – the opportunities but also the challenges associated with this new technology that may spark a revolution in our future energy policies.

Its starting-point is the realization that coal is not an outdated, disappearing source of energy. Quite con- trary to the predominant perception in Europe, coal is in fact the second-most important source of energy after oil globally, largely due to high consumption rates in emerging countries. And coal is still on the rise – the International Energy Agency projects a fur- ther increase in coal use and states in its World Energy Outlook 2011 that, with no change in policies, coal consumption could even overtake oil by 2035. Since coal is here to stay, at least over the medium-term, it is necessary to point out that it should not be demonized as an energy source. Instead, new and innovative so- lutions are needed to maximize its energy potential while keeping environmental costs to a minimum. We shall have to live with oil, coal, and gas for a long time; therefore it is necessary to work for the “greening of fossil fuels”.

Given the twin challenges of achieving long-term energy security, on the one hand, and mitigating the effects of climate change, on the other, this study highlights the potential for coal in conjunction with CCS technologies to actually help address both simul- taneously. (excerpt of study preface by Friedbert Pflüger, Director EUCERS)

click here for downloading the EUCERS Strategy Paper No.2 – The Future of Clean Coal and CCS

The first EUCERS Strategy Paper: “STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVES OF UNCONVENTIONAL GAS: A GAME CHANGER WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EU’S ENERGY SECURITY” by Maximilian Kuhn and Frank Umbach, addresses the potential, various obstacles and challenges for European unconventional gas. By taking into account  important questions about the future market structure, the regulatory environment, political risk, investor confidence, geopolitical consequences, public acceptance and competition with other fuels – especially renewables -, which need to be answered in the months and years ahead.

This EUCERS Strategy Paper tries to answer these demanding questions by providing an insightful and comprehensive introduction to these issues to help policy-makers, scholars, industry executives, practitioners, and concerned citizens alike to understand the importance and the broad implications of this issue.

`Strategic Perspectives of Unconventional Gas´ incorporated comments from an expert round-table on 15 March 2011 jointly organized by Research Analysts at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the European Centre for Energy and Resource Security (EUCERS) at Kings College London.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed and hope that the comprehensive study on this important subject will find your interest.

The EUCERS Strategy Paper: `Strategic Perspectives of Unconventional Gas: A Game Changer with implications for the EU´s Energy Security´ is available for download here!

The Big Bang, namely the enlargement in 2004 „created” the Eastern Neighbourhood by moving the EU’s borders towards the post-Soviet area. On the other hand, since Romania and Bulgaria’s accession in 2007, the Black Sea region has become a direct neighbourhood of the EU. In consequence, the EU has launched in the recent years or is preparing to launch in the nearest future new initiatives fully or partially aimed at the region (The Black Sea Synergy, the Eastern Partnership, Strategy for the Danube Region). Moreover, a discussion about development of an EU Strategy for the Black Sea has started in the recent months. The multitude of the EU’s initiatives directed to the East and the Black Sea region creates an impression of lack of coherence, unnecessary overlapping and tensions between the EU member states. This trend has negative impact on the EU’s performance and credibility in the region which indeed posses a crucial importance for the EU in political and economic dimensions. Politically, the EU is keen to limit instability, promote democratic governance and the rule of law, economically the region is crucial as a transit corridor for energy and goods. The EU’s three biggest direct neighbors, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine have Black Sea presence and are to various degree key stakeholders in its further development.

The study published by Demos Europa, an Institute in Warsaw, on behalf of the Polish Foreign Office. EUCERS Associate Director Dr Frank Umbach contributed a chapter on:

“The Black Sea Region and the Great Energy Game in Eurasia”

In the publication, Frank analyses the most recent strategic policies and trends within the region and in the wider interregional context with Central Asia and the Caspian region (CACR). He focuses in detail of the national energy security policies of Russia, China, Ukraine, Turkey, the EU and the regional states of CACR. Given the different strategic interests, agendas and policies, they have often complicate and hindering regional-wide cooperation. While many Western analyses focus still too much on the geopolitical rivalries between the US/EU-Russia, China has taken advantage of it and has become the real challenger oif Russia’s energy and geopolitical interests in the years and decades to come which will further complicate the future overall Russian-Chinese relationship despite the growing bilateral trade. At the same time, building the Nabucco pipeline has become even more important with the Nord Stream pipeline. It would not only boost the regionala nd interegional enegy cooperation of the EU with the Black Sea regiona and CACR, but would also offer new pespectives beyond oil and gas pipeline projects, including on the expansion of renewables, ehancing energy efficiency and conservation as well as the development of unconventional gas cooperation.

Click here for the publication by Demos Europa – Centre for European Strategy