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Institute hosts Global Status of CCS 2019 US launch event at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center

6th February 2020

On February 4, the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center hosted an event showcasing the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute’s most recent report, Global Status of CCS 2019: Targeting Climate Change, in tandem with a lively discussion with panelists Maya Batres, Lee Beck, Ryan Edwards, and Janet Peace, moderated by David Livingston, deputy director of climate and advanced energy at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center. Panelists discussed the current status of carbon capture and storage (CCS), the next generation of CCS projects, policies, and technologies taking shape around the world, as well as the role of CCS facilities in global decarbonization.

Damon Wilson, Atlantic Council executive vice president, introduced the event and provided context on the critical role that carbon capture and storage policy must play in combating climate change. He emphasized the important role that these technologies will play in achieving the net-zero emission transition, before introducing keynote speaker Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) took the podium to deliver keynote remarks on Congress’ role in promoting carbon capture and climate mitigation policy. Whitehouse is a congressional climate champion, as well as a legislative advocate for CCS technology and carbon pricing. Whitehouse called upon private sector actors for their support in moving the needle on CCS development and climate action, acknowledging that corporate buy-in will be necessary to achieve widespread US climate goals. Whitehouse concluded his remarks with a riling call to action, declaring that it is time for the United States to get serious about the climate crisis.

Jeff Erikson, general manager at the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, followed with a presentation detailing the Institute’s annual report: Global Status of CCS 2019: Targeting Climate Change. Erikson relayed the report’s key takeaways, explaining that urgent action is required to achieve climate change targets and that CCS is vital to reaching or surpassing climate goals. The report also communicates some worrisome realities; even with national and sub-national climate goals on the table, progress has been slow, greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, and fossil fuels remain rooted in our economy and its future. These points highlight the gap between rhetoric and reality.

According to Erikson, CCS is versatile and effective, has high potential for job creation, and will enable the transition to a low-carbon industrial economy. CCS is expanding, with growing adoption across different sectors, such as power generation and industrial production. Erikson explained that the majority of current projects in operation and under development are in the United States, followed by Europe and China.

Distinguished panelists Lee Beck, senior advisor at the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute; Janet Peace, senior vice president of Policy and Business Strategy at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES); Ryan Edwards, low carbon policy advisor at Oxy Low Carbon Ventures; and Maya Batres, project manager of Energy and Land Use at The Nature Conservancy, made their way to the stage following Erikson’s report briefing.

The role of CCS in the decarbonization portfolio was a major focus of the panel’s conversation, with emphasis placed on the need for governments to embrace CCS. Panelists underscored that not only is CCS essential to reach net-zero targets but it is also economically beneficial. Speakers discussed the incorporation of new CCS technologies, such as direct air capture (DAC) and industrial CSS at cement and steel manufacturing sites, in addition to CCS sector clustering. The panelists discussed specific legislation, including the US 45Q CCS tax incentive and California’s low-carbon fuel standard as innovative first steps in moving towards the net-zero emissions transition.

Currently, most CCS projects have been single source, single sink. Looking forward, the panelists agreed that shared, interconnected infrastructure will play an important role. When there are multiple industries and sources capturing CO2 that can all feed into one shared transport infrastructure, such as a pipeline, not only can more CO2 be collected, but costs in the system will be lowered. By lowering costs across the system, more projects can be implemented.

The session then turned to the audience, with attendees raising important questions concerning how CCS could help achieve negative emissions, moving beyond net-zero goals. The audience also asked about infrastructure, policy, and the possible effect of legislative action on the future of CCS research and development. In addition, audience members questioned how California’s low-carbon fuel standard could be replicated elsewhere, and asked about the role of oil and gas as a climate solution provider.

The event concluded with closing remarks from Randolph Bell, director of the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center.

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