09 Jan 2009 10:01:14
CCS could reduce carbon emissions by a third
An expert has claimed that the use of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) would see a rapid reduction in the UK's carbon footprint.
Stuart Haszeldine, professor of sedimentary geology at the University of Edinburgh, said that CCS was an attractive option and could "potentially reduce a third of emissions very rapidly".
He added that it was also appealing as it does not necessitate a change in behaviour in the way we live or work.
"By fitting CCS outside, underground you could do that in ten or 15 years and remove a third of emissions with only 20 big decisions in the UK
Make the decision, spend the money, reduce the emissions - compared to changing our behaviour [and] changing the way we use land."
"Changing the way we behave in business may mean [changing] 50 million decisions every day to change that behaviour."
CCS is the process whereby CO2 emissions are captured from large scale energy conversion and industrial processes before being transported and injected into secure geological structures for permanent storage.
Stuart Haszeldine was speaking at a Royal Society meeting entitled Towards a Low Carbon Energy Future.
http://www.ccsassociation.org.uk/