On 17 December 2013 a special Global CCS Institute webinar was held featuring Daniel Fernandez-Poulussen, from Spain’s Public Research Foundation – Ciuden. Daniel introduced us to the extensive program of public engagement and outreach activities that have been undertaken for the onshore CO2 storage project (the Hontomin Project) taking place in the village of Hontomin, North West Spain. Daniel discussed the Project’s social site characterisation activities, communication plan, and the outcomes of a project that was recently under taken in collaboration with Hontomin’s Local Council representatives. Developing and delivering a comprehensive public engagement strategy from the outset of a project has been shown to be a key factor for the successful development of CO2 storage projects, especially onshore storage projects. This webinar will share the lessons learnt so far at Hontomin with the wider CCS community and we welcome questions and comments from listeners.

1. Public Engagement Lessons Learned in Hontomin:
Experiences of an onshore CO2 Storage Project
Webinar – 17 December 2013, 1900 AEDT

2. Daniel Fernández-Poulussen
Geologist and Community Relationship Manager - CIUDEN
Daniel Fernandez-Poulussen is a Geologist working in the Business
Development Unit of the CO2 Storage Programme of the Spanish
Public Research Foundation – CIUDEN.
Daniel has been working at CIUDEN since 2009 and has amassed a
great deal of experience in project management and external
communication including community relationship management
around CO2 storage sites from his work on the EEPR-funded
Compostilla Project and on the FP7 Projects - ECCSEL and
IMPACTS.

3. QUESTIONS
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4. Who is CIUDEN?
CIUDEN was created by the Spanish Government in 2006
as a non-profit R&D institution fully conceived for
collaborative research in CCS
and CCTs.
es.CO2 Centre
CO2 capture and transport
large-scale facilities
PC boiler: 20 MWth
CFB boiler: 30 MWth max.
Location: Cubillos del Sil (León)
Hontomín site
CO2 geological storage
in saline aquifer onshore
2 Wells, 1600m depth
Location: Hontomín (Burgos)

5. Who is CIUDEN?
Ene.Museo: National Museum of Energy
Strong Science Communication Unit,
including:
 Educational Programme
 Cultural Programme
Activities, courses, workshops related to
science communication with a focus on
energy, coal, CO2 and climate change.
www.enemuseo.org
dec.ene@ciuden.es

6. Overview of Compostilla project

7. The beginning: building a strategy on public engagement

8. Establishment of a strong outreach team
 Composed of specialists from different fields,
gender and age.
 Group of specialised spokespersons for
media and local population.
 Regular working meetings.
 Same (familiar) faces, unified messages.

9. Integral communication plan

10. Integral communication plan

11. Integral communication plan

12. Integral communication plan
 Specific information packs for
local and regional authorities.
 Specific information pack for
journalists.
 Basic information for all
audiences: Leaflets with
general info about the Project
and CCS.
 Available in English and
Spanish on the website.
 Sent to local and national
authorities of influence in the
Project areas.

13. Socioeconomical characterisation
Scientific worries
Safety concerns
•CO2 toxicity
•Safety guarantees
•Tested technology
•Obstacle for
renewable energy
• Storage limit
• Storage sites
• Reutilisation of
Stored CO2
• Price, who pays?
Risk perception
•Ecosystems
•Human health
•Period of time
Perceived benefits
• Climate change
• CO2 reduction
• Economy of the sites
Can CCS contribute to mitigate climate change?

14. Socioeconomical characterisation
Perception studies (national and regional)
After receiving information: Do you think CCS is a good
idea to mitigate climate change ?
Risk for the people
Risk for the region
CCS is a good idea
7%
Disagree
General population (not
well informed)
Castilla y León population
( well informed)
“Have you ever heard about The Compostilla Project?”
75%
Agree
After receiving information: Do you think the project
will be beneficial for the region?
Not
sure
65%
Yes
CIUDEN – CISOT
2012
18%
No opinion

15. Site-specific action plan
Three areas, three strategies…
The capture area:
 Reinforce the idea of economic opportunity
 Strategic location
 Synergies with other projects
The transport area:
 Security, infrastructure with low environmental impact
 Clear, accurate, flexible communication
 A proactive approach
The storage area:
 Reinforce social and economic opportunities in the area: job creation,
international relevance, scientific activities, economic compensations
 A proactive approach
 Strong media interaction
 Quick reaction to possible negative impacts detected

16. Key points to remember
Listen…and listen more
Partnerships
Engage ≠ Convince
Adapted messages
Building
trust
Flexibility
Early actions
Transparency
Dialogue ≠ Monologue
Familiarity

17. Public perception activities
Local Community Engagement in local festivals
CIUDEN invited to participate

18. Activities in public engagement: Communication plan
Press, radio & TV
Presence at workshops
Local Community Meetings
Guided tours
Activities for children
Communication materials
www.ciuden.es
www.compostillaproject.es

19. A successful idea: Better Together
 April 2012: Call for proposals on the promotion of scientific culture
and innovation.
 September 2012: Project approved, one year project until Sept 2013
 April 2013: Extra funds from “Obra Social La Caixa”
Project title: Promotion of scientific culture and innovation among the
population of La Merindad de Río Ubierna in collaboration with CIUDEN

20. A successful idea: Better Together
Ciuden prepared a set of activities with
the Local Council – both for children and
for the general public.

21. A successful idea: Better Together – presence at local festivals

22. The Project

23. Science, cooking and the blood sausage workshop
A workshop was arranged as a part of the program of activities for the
local Blood Sausage Festival, November 2012.

24. CO2, do I know you?
Workshops were arranged at the Sotopalacios Community Centre.

25. Sustainability Workshop
Lectures were arranged for elderly people at Sotopalacios Community
Centre.

26. Solar Kitchen Workshop
Workshop held as part of the Blood Sausage Festival at Sotopalacios,
November 2012.

27. Photography Contest ‘Geology and Environment of the Merindad’
Prizes delivered during the local fair of ‘La Merindad’, August 2013.
www.concursomerindad.com

28. Drawing contest ‘The future of the planet’
Prizes were delivered during the local fair of ‘La Merindad’, August 2013.

29. Wine & CO2 and Geology & Wine Workshops
Two workshops were held with wine experts at the Sotopalacios
Community Centre, April 2013.

30. Workshop for children ‘Cooking with CO2’
Several CO2 recipes have
been developed as part of
the activities carried out
near Hontomín and at
Ene.Museo, in Ponferrada.
Parents and children all
enjoyed taking part in
these activities.

31. Workshop for children ‘Cooking with CO2’
Fruit Volcano
Penguins in the Mist
Steam Train
Chocolate Icecream
Summer Milkshake
The Recipes

32. Workshop for children ‘Cooking with CO2’
Penguins in the Mist

33. Workshop for children ‘Cooking with CO2’
Halloween Recipe

34. Summer School: ‘The Magic Rocks of Hontomin’
Four events were carried out for children in the village of Hontomin.

35. Summer School: ‘The Magic Rocks of Hontomin’
Four events were carried out for children in the village of Hontomin.

36. Site visits

37. Lessons Learned

Know your community and adapt to them.

Transparency in communication.

Proactive communication is a must.

Materials and messages must be adapted to
audiences.

Education programmes are a great method of
community engagement.

Listen and listen again!

38. So what is next?
More workshops and science outreach activities to
come (both for capture and storage areas) working in
close collaboration with Local Councils.
Scientist for a day!
Plants & CO2
The Origin of Coal
Etc…

39. Thanks for your attention!
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to: Andrea Pérez, Marta Ferrero, Beatriz
Taladrid, Roberto Cuadrado, Montse, Veronica and all the
colleagues who have kindly collaborated in the project.

40. Thanks for the attention!
Daniel Fernandez-Poulussen
Business Development Unit
CO2 Geological Storage Programme
Tel.+34 987 456 323
Mobile +34-689 586 637
d.fernandez@ciuden.es
Technological Development Plant for CO2 Storage
www.ciuden.es

41. QUESTIONS / DISCUSSION
Please submit your questions in
English directly into the
GoToWebinar control panel.
The webinar will start shortly.

42. Please submit any feedback to: webinar@globalccsinstitute.com
WE WILL ADD IN THE LINK TO THE HONTOMIN PAGE ON THE
INSTITUTE WEBSITE AND THE CIUDEN WEBSITE HERE.