PESD Carbon Storage Project Database released

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies form a key piece of virtually all roadmaps for global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reductions---many studies predict that CCS will contribute 20-50% of the necessary CO2 emissions reductions by 2100. To assess actual progress of CCS projects towards fulfilling these expectations, the PESD Carbon Storage Project Database tracks all publicly announced CCS projects worldwide.

The first version of the PESD Carbon Storage Project Database, developed by PESD researchers Varun Rai, Ngai-Chi Chung, Mark C. Thurber, and David G. Victor, was released on June 30, 2008. Through careful examination of numerous information sources, the database groups all CCS projects into three categories according to the probability of their completion: currently operating (100% likelihood), possible (estimated 50-90% likelihood), and speculative (estimated 0-50% likelihood).

The authors observe that even under the aggressive scenario that all “possible” projects are indeed realized, this will result in about 60 Mt CO2/yr of reductions worldwide by 2025, far short of the 300 Mt CO2/yr of reductions that are projected as technologically feasible using CCS by 2030 in the U.S. alone.

The PESD Carbon Storage Project Database will be updated regularly. The authors welcome comments and feedback that will help improve the database, including identification of other projects which should be included or refinements to the probabilities and storage estimates for specific projects.