Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS)
WRI provides strategic advice on the development of best practices, regulations, and standards for CCS and participates in the development of national and international strategies for CCS deployment, consistent with environmental and social integrity.
Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is the process by which carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and other industrial facilities are captured and stored underground. The process is currently being demonstrated worldwide at commercial scales, but without more experience, the role of CCS in meeting future climate goals will remain uncertain—especially in emerging economies. Without supportive policies and engaged local communities, CCS technologies will be unable to assume a central role in climate change mitigation.
WRI’s work on CCS has been prefaced by five guiding principles. CCS should not be deployed unless we can:
- Protect human health and safety
- Protect ecosystems
- Protect underground sources of drinking water and other natural resources
- Ensure market confidence in emissions reduction through greenhouse gas accounting
- Facilitate cost-effective, timely deployment
In an effort to ensure present and future CCS projects around the world are as environmentally and socially responsible as possible, WRI leads an international collaboration within the US- China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) Advanced Coal Technology Consortium and works to provide technical expertise on the regulations and policies required for safe and effective CCS deployment, primarily in the US and China. WRI is also working with CCS project developers to find ways to share knowledge from past projects and accelerate the CCS learning curve.
WRI began evaluating regulatory issues for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and storage in 2006, convening over 80 stakeholders to formulate the Guidelines for Carbon Dioxide Capture, Transport, and Storage, and the Guidelines for Community Engagement in CCS Projects.
The starting point for the guidelines discussions was that CCS will most likely be needed to achieve the magnitude of CO2 emissions reduction required to stabilize and reduce atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.The goal of this effort was to develop a set of preliminary guidelines and recommendations for the deployment of CCS technologies in the United States. The CCS Guidelines are written for those who may be involved in decisions on a proposed project: the developers, regulators, financiers, insurers, project operators, and policymakers.
These guidelines are intended to guide and build public confidence in CCS technologies by informing the public how projects should be conducted. Their purpose is not to make a case for or against CCS, but rather to develop practical considerations for demonstrating and deploying CCS technologies.