​New coordinator for the EFG Panel of Experts on CCS

 

Since last November, the EFG Panel of Experts on CO2 Geological Storage (CCS) has a new coordinator: Nikolaos Koukouzas (Greece) has replaced Kris Piessens (Belgium), bringing in his broad experience in research and management in several scientific fields.

Nikolaos holds a PhD and an MSc, both awarded by the University of Leicester, England. He has studied geology at the University of Athens and is nowadays Director of Research of the CERTH/CPERI in Athens.

His broad experience makes him the appropriate person for leading the Panel. His career extends to more than 25 years of experience on industrial mineral applications, raw materials, mining, power production and co-combustion of coal related topics; coordinator of the emissions and CO2 related COALBYPRO project; professor at the University of Athens and Air Force Academy and Detached Expert in the DG Energy, European Commission.

Marko Komac

Nikolaos Koukouzas

Coordinator of the EFG Panel of Experts on CO2 Geological Storage

Association of Greek Geologists

Dr. Koukouzas is a member of the following organisations: Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF), Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS), EU-GCC Clean Energy Network, EURACOAL, National delegate in the working group of CCS of the European Climate Change Programme of the EC and many others.

With Dr. Koukouzas’ appointment as the new coordinator of the Panel of Experts on CCS, EFG aims to increase its presence and activity related to the European Union’s priorities in terms of power generation and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The “Green Deal” will generate opportunities in different fields and it will promote the development of new technologies on the potential usage of new, cleaner energy sources.

During its first meeting, the Panel members emphasised that CCS offers indeed the perspective to mitigate CO2 emissions and move forward to meet the EU’s Green Deal and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). In this context, traditional oil and gas companies can be transformed to become part of the solution and increase job growth rates.

The participants concurred that the Panel should follow the EFG Strategy and provide active support whenever this is requested to promote the geological profession by offering scientific expertise for the society’s benefit.

In this first meeting, the EFG staff and Board were well represented by Glen Burridge (Executive Director) and Pavlos Tyrologou (External Relations Officer), assisted by Alberto Sánchez (Project Officer).

Stay tuned about the Panel’s news by following our website: https://eurogeologists.eu/european-network/