Thematic Programma Environment ...: Cooperation on clean coal technology (CCT) and carbon capture and storage (CCS)

The overarching goal of the programme is to achieve greater environmental sustainability in the power sector in the following targeted countries: India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, The Russian Federation and Ukraine. More specifically, the objective of the call for proposals is to promote the use of the CCT and CCS technologies in the beneficiary countries as well as to contribute to the strengthening of international expert networks and knowledge exchange in these fields.

Actions that will be supported are related to capacity building and studies on CCT and CCS targeting in particular coal dependent countries. The emphasis will be on promoting capacity-building through transnational organisation networks (industries, coal institutes, research centres, etc) between coaldependent countries, emerging economies and developing countries on the one side and EU countries on the other side, contributing so to the promotion of the respective technologies. However, exchanges with EU countries are not compulsory and actions may be undertaken between emerging countries or within a specific country. The different cooperation activities envisaged areexpected to transfer lessons learnt and suitable forms of governance, therefore, reducing the impact of some industries on the environment. Actions may target the coal power industry, the steel industry, the cement industry or any other energy intensive industry producing high levels of CO2 emissions.
Actions proposed should be in line with national authorities' policies and strategies. Priority will be given to solutions consistent with partner countries' development goals. All projects must demonstrate that they meet relevant criteria in terms of economic and  environmental impact. Considering the limited amount of funds available under this Call for Proposals in comparison with the
required investment needs, bank's investments, private sector participation or any other co-donor's financial participation will be considered priority. Innovative schemes from a technical, management and financial point of view will be encouraged, and in particular schemes that lend themselves to scaling-up in national and regional programmes. Overall, projects should contribute to paving the way for climate change mitigation.

Support for national "CCT and CCS capacity building and technology" development centres and cooperation activities between interested groups in emerging and developing countries and those working on CCT or CCS plants in Europe; Activities could include the following tasks:
Þ Support to comprehensive programs on Cleaner Coal Development Cooperation;
Þ Promote cooperation and synergies, with active participation of the industry and private sector and other relevant organisations;
Þ Strengthen collaboration with leading regional and global centres to enhance networks. Establish experience and knowledge networks with key players (including the industry) aiming to pool, share and analyse information;
Þ Strengthen human capacity and enhance infrastructure to facilitate Energy Efficiency projects and Energy Efficiency policy plans;
Þ Encourage the private sector to jointly develop power projects;
Þ Promote technical cooperation, including with international experts group and institutions;
Þ Capacity building for institutions playing a role in reporting, collecting and analysing financial data on GHG emissions ("Measurement, Reporting and Verification" [MRV] systems) in the coal energy sector;

· Studies on preparatory activities for the possible demonstration, diffusion and deployment of CCT and CCS; Activities could include the following tasks:
Þ Conduct inventories of coal fire plants and coal technologies in the region/country. Monitor installed capacity and develop technical standards; Prepare CCT feasibility studies to potential investors, project developers, power utilities and funding institutions;
Þ Develop national programs and available markets; Develop frames for policy regulations and plans to promote national energy efficiency targets; Develop plans to monitor results;

Þ Compile and analyse coal policies, regulations, plans, programs and institutional arrangements; Further develop appropriate regulatory principles;
Þ Conduct studies to address barriers and further optimisation on the most economic operations;
Þ Conduct Environmental and social impact assessments; Conduct Risk assessments;
Þ Evaluate opportunities for demonstration of CCS technologies; Develop guidelines as appropriate;
Þ On basis of already collected geological data, conduct CCS Storage capacity mapping and assessment; Studies on site selection and permit allocations in the CCS sector;

· Education, seminars and awareness raising activities; Activities could include the following tasks:
Þ Promote regional policy and coal technologies;
Þ Demonstrate best energy practices and successful cases (e.g. public-private sector collaboration);
Develop incentives to encourage those good energy management practices;

· Facilitation of Energy Efficiency Financing; Activities could include the following tasks:
Þ Develop innovative financing instruments or mechanisms in order to enhance Energy Efficiency projects, including regulatory instruments (e.g., tax incentives, feed-in tariffs, investment credits, carbon market mechanisms, etc.); Establish and promote criteria for possible CDM projects in the coal sector based on country's sustainable development objectives and policies.
Þ Promote involvement of banking sector and financial institutes in financing Energy Efficiency projects;
Þ Identification and recommendation of financing modalities;
Þ Encourage private sector investment and participation.

· Internships and training on CCT and CCS to European companies; Activities could include the following tasks:
Þ Encourage personnel exchange and cross-study training;
Þ Internships for engineers and power sector managers;
Þ Training for decision-makers and authorities (at central and local levels).
Þ Sharing of information on research and innovative policies, market-based energy policies.
Þ Activities for decision-makers or authorities (at central and local levels) in charge of public awareness or promoting CCT/CCS legislation; Activities for engineers and power sector managers

Geographical location:
Projects must be for the benefit of the following emerging economies and coal dependent countries:
v India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, South Africa and Ukraine.