Top energy leaders have held high levels talks over working together to drive further deployment of carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).
The energy ministers of Canada, China, Norway, and the United States, were joined with heads of delegation from Australia and the European Commission, along with leaders from the industry and key organisations, at the meeting hosted by the International Energy Agency and China.
The meeting was held ahead of the 8th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM8), in Beijing.
Ministers and panellists discussed the factors that have attracted investment to current CCUS projects and where they could replicate this success.
The discussion also centred on the vital role of CCUS in reducing carbon dioxide emissions while ensuring energy security.
The countries represented in the discussion host 19 of the 22 projects currently in operation or construction globally.
Host country China recently announced the beginning of construction on the country’s first large-scale CCUS project in Shaanxi Province. The Minister for Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, Wan Gang, co-hosted the discussion.
US Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry said: “I don’t believe you can have a real conversation about clean energy without including CCUS. The United States understands the importance of this clean technology and its vital role in the future of energy production.”
“We have already seen the success of projects like Petra Nova in Texas, which is the world’s largest post-combustion carbon-capture system,” Mr. Perry said. “Our experience with CCUS proves that you can do the right thing for the environment and the economy too.”
The system at Petra Nova can capture 1.6 million tons of CO2 each year from an existing coal-fired power plant unit, a capture rate of up to 90 percent from a supplied slipstream of flue gas.
By using CO2 captured from the plant, oil production at West Ranch oilfield is expected to increase from around 500 barrels per day to up to 15,000 barrels per day.
Jim Carr, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources said: “Carbon capture, use and storage holds enormous potential to enable economic growth and create jobs, while ensuring the environment is protected.
“Canada hopes to continue working with domestic and international partners — including through the Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation — to help us all address the technical and policy challenges around wide scale implementation of this important technology.”
The leaders recognized the importance of CCUS technology as an essential tool in the global effort to achieve deep reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and prevent global temperature rises in future decades.
Josh Frydenberg, Australia’s Minister for Environment and Energy, could not attend but sent a written statement that said: “Gas and coal will continue to play a significant role in both the global energy mix and industrial processes for the foreseeable future.
“The Australian Government is taking a technology-neutral approach to providing an affordable and reliable energy system as we transition to lower emissions future; and we recognise that carbon capture and storage has an important role to play.
“In recognition of this, last week the Australian Government announced it will broaden the mandate of the Australian Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) to support investment in CCS technologies.”
Recommended for you
