Introduction

Positive energy buildings (PEBs) can contribute to mitigating climate change. This introductory chapter provides a broader context for PEBs and information on current PEBs in Europe. First, the chapter presents the important role of the building sector in climate change mitigation on the global and EU level, and PEBs as enablers for a consumer-centred clean energy transition and contributor to climate neutrality. The chapter then touches upon the current European climate and energy policy framework for 2030 and the European Green Deal with its goal for Europe’s economy and society to become climate-neutral by 2050 and reflects the role of PEBs in these. The chapter ends by introducing examples of existing PEBs all around Europe.</p

Policies for the promotion of BECCS in the Nordic countries

Several Nordic countries and the EU have adopted net-zero greenhouse gas emission targets. Achieving net-zero will necessitate CO2 removal from the atmosphere to offset residual emissions that are challenging to mitigate. Bioenergy with CO2 capture and storage (BECCS) is a technology that has the potential to generate large-scale CO2 removal and contribute to the attainment of net-zero targets. The report describes the status of BECCS in the Nordic countries and globally. Significant initiatives in the Nordic countries are mapped. Challenges on the market that inhibit BECCS development are analyzed and areas of cooperation and joint initiatives on the Nordic level that could promote the development and deployment of BECCS are proposed. The project has been carried out by IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute in collaboration with CICERO (Norway) and VTT (Finland)