Why We Need CCS, Part 1: The Basics

This five-part article will outline the primary reasons why CO2 capture and storage (CCS) should form an important part of the global energy mix over the 21st century. In contrast to most advocacy pieces, however, no arguments for technology-forcing policies such as feed-in tariffs or deployment mandates will be presented. Instead, the following articles will strive only to illustrate why CCS will do well in what I view to be the most likely future climate change policy development scenario: delayed/ineffective proactive action followed by a somewhat desperate reactive scramble towards rapid decarbonization. The only policy action advocated will be continuation of the funding support necessary to ensure the commercial readiness of efficient second generation CCS technology by the time the reactive climate change mitigation scramble commences.