Carbon Capture then and now!

GHGT-11, Kyoto 2012

Between 2009 and 2013 (387-397 ppm) I was working with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in different roles in the Alstom organization. The technology was rather new and Alstom Power, led by Philippe Joubert, was making this a focal point for the business. We were at the forefront of the technology development, we had numerous pilot plants installed around the world, we acquired an engineering company to get the necessary process and project know how and it was one of the best environments I have ever worked in. But there was also another side of it, outside of the CCS team. Colleagues and peers in the power industry were all brushing it off as “something that will never happen”, in the public domain the debate about if global warming was man-made or just a normal temperature variation was at its peak, and the IPCC reports were received with great skepticism. The extreme weather scenarios like droughts, floodings and stronger hurricanes were exactly that, i.e. scenarios that was mentioned as a possible result of increased temperatures. In the end, the challenging economic situation following the financial crisis from 2007-2008 led to little or no interest to invest further in CCS, and the technology went in hibernation.

Today, 2022 (418 ppm), the situation is different. Climate change is recognized as man-made, decarbonization is on every agenda and big and small companies, organizations, towns, regions and countries are competing on setting the most aggressive target for being carbon neutral (or fossil free or net zero or….). Extreme weather situations are abundant around the world, there is little or no argument about the necessity to move towards a low carbon society. Carbon Capture and Storage is back, and it is seen as an essential component to reach the Paris Agreement target of max 2°, ideally 1.5° global warming compared to pre-industrial levels. Money is being spent (again) on pilot and demonstration projects, there are several projects for CO2 storage infrastructures in advanced stages, and the first commercial Direct Air Capture and Storage installation is up and running on Iceland. In addition, CO2 is seen as a potential raw material for production of synthetic fuels, plastics etc in a future fossil free world.

Personally, I have always been a believer in this technology, and it is with joy that I see the return of it. I have followed it through the years, and that is why I now launch a new offering:

If you need independent advice on CCS technology or projects, from a seasoned professional who started his career when the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere was 351ppm, please don’t hesitate to contact me for a first discussion.

I was at the Green House Gas Technologies (GHGT) conference #11 in Kyoto in 2012, and I will be at GHGT-16 in Lyon, October 23-27, 2022, maybe we can meet in person and exchange contact details!