Why is there so much interest in this technology?

CO2 capture and storage (CCS) involves recovering carbon dioxide (CO2) where it is generated and storing it underground so that it is not released into the atmosphere.

Because emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), which include CO₂, are a major cause of climate change.

About 80% of GHGs are made up of CO₂ (Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – IPCC, Climate Change 2007, Summary Report). Combustion of fossil fuels (i.e. oil, gas and coal) account for some three-quarters of all CO₂ emissions.

Despite the ongoing development of alternative energies, fossil fuels still meet nearly 81% of world primary energy demand. And according to most forecast scenarios, primary energy demand will grow by a further 30% by 2030. The share of fossil fuels in the energy mix should diminish but will still remain dominant.

In this context, a number of ways to reduce GHG (and particularly CO₂) emissions are being explored, such as controlling energy consumption, improving energy efficiency, and developing energy sources that generate less GHG emissions.

CO₂ capture and storage is a promising complementary solution.

This is because CO₂ capture and storage would greatly reduce the CO₂ emissions released into the atmosphere by industrial sites using fossil fuels. Between now and 2050, use of this technology could account for up to 30% of the reduction in world CO₂ emissions generated by fossil fuel combustion deemed necessary by the IPCC.