Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has changed “most radically” over the past year and the issue has now moved down the industry’s priority list says the World Energy Council. Its report singled out Europe as a region least likely to adopt CCS.
In its latest publication, ‘2013 World Energy Issues Monitor’ which is an annual assessment of the issues impacting the global and regional energy sector, energy leaders believe that until there is clarity on the price of carbon, CCS will continue to be seen as an additional cost on energy.
Dr Christoph Frei (pictured on the left), Secretary General of the WEC and author of the report said: “The report is significant and clearly shows the insomnia issues keeping energy leaders awake at night. For me the most significant change is the way CCS is now being viewed with a clear tension between the desire of energy leaders for a climate framework and the lack of confidence in some mitigating technologies. This change in perception is of considerable concern as the success of new technologies like CCS will be critical if we are to achieve the massive transition required in the energy sector.”
Although a global picture, the report singled out Europe as a region least likely to adopt CCS.
WEC suggested a low carbon price does not support the long term goals of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe, making CCS or more efficient gas power plants “less investable”. The report claims the EU efficiency directive does not provide any “ambitious” binding incentives, therefore the “achievement of final objectives is doubtful”.