Carbon Capture and Storage Act (KSpG)

This Act ensures a permanent storage of CO2 in underground rock layers in a way that protects humanity and the environment and takes the responsibility for future generations into consideration. The law regulates the exploration, testing and demonstration of the permanent CO2 storage technology. It is the national-level implementing legislation for the EU Directive on the geological storage of CO2.

It provides for an annual storage of no more than 1.3m tons of CO2 and a maximum storage capacity of 4m tons of CO2 per year in Germany. It also stipulates that permits can only be granted if an application for a CO2 storage facility has been made by 31 December 2016. States may enact regional-level laws to prevent CCS facilities from being established in their territory.