Who will win the race to commercial CCS?

In the last few decades, we’ve seen countries race to develop new technologies, from state-of-the-art weapons to putting a person on the moon.

Now, it seems we’re in a race to see who will develop the first commercial-scale (~500 MW) coal-based power plant equipped with carbon capture and sequestration technology. The U.S. is close, with its myriad carbon capture demonstration projects; and the UK and Australia are also staking their claim in the CCS race. But who did Carnegie Mellon Professor, Ed Rubin say is a wise bet?

China.

It seems hard to believe that the developing nation who has in the past shunned a commitment to reducing emissions may be the first country to build a commercial-scale plant with carbon capture technology.

Speaking at George Washington University’s Accelerating Greenhouse Gas Reductions symposium, Professor Rubin said that the US has been “talking the talk” in regard to deploying commercial CCS, “but not walking the walk. As far as I can tell, no one has put $1 million in a lock box for commercial carbon capture.”

So how can the US reemerge as a global leader in technology and innovation?

Professor Rubin cited policy as an obstacle in CCS deployment, saying that it will not occur without a strong policy driver. The upside? The recent stimulus package and draft climate change bill have included money and incentives for carbon capture.

Professor Rubin concluded his session by saying that the West is “an important source of leadership” for carbon capture. We know we can guide the way.

Comments

[Pat Skibbe]

Everyone take note. We need CO2 in the air. We are currently at 325 and if we go below 165 we will kill all of our vegetation. In the middle ages CO2 was at a much higher rate than today. They had more vegetation and more species. Our veg. species are dying out now. It is because of a lower level of CO2, not because of it.