Carbon capture and storage proponents argue the technology is proving itself in 12 large-scale demonstration plants, preventing 25 million tonnes a year of greenhouse gases reaching the atmosphere.
However, they have warned that current policy momentum is too slow if CCS is to play a full role in tackling climate change.
The Global CCS Institute, which was set up by the Australian government in 2009, yesterday called for renewed focus on the technology — which had been written off by some green groups — arguing the technology was on track to have 20 demonstration plants under way by 2016, storing 38 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year.
Institute chief executive Brad Page said there was not sufficient policy momentum on CCS and if this remained the case, people would ultimately be paying 40 per cent more for their power than they should as more expensive technologies were used.
Mr Page said despite negative perceptions peddled about CCS by extreme green groups, the past year had seen a 50 per cent increase in operational CCS projects.
“There are particular vested interest groups that often say CCS is not real and it’s dangerous,” he said. “It’s a great disservice that’s being done, particularly to the Australian community.
“We need to spend a bit more time explaining to Australians that there are many projects around the world that are storing those huge quantities of CO2 very safely. They have been doing so in Norway for more than a decade now.”
In the government’s climate change modelling, CCS was seen as a key technology in lowering emissions from electricity generation.
The release of the CCS report came as OECD secretary-general Angel Gurria called for carbon pricing to remain a core element of government plans to reduce emissions. The Abbott government is preparing to dismantle Labor’s carbon tax, with legislation planned for the first week of sittings next month.
“In our view, any policy response to climate change by any country must have at its core a plan to steadily make carbon emissions more expensive while, at the same time, judiciously giving non-fossil energy and energy efficiency an advantage at the margin. This is fundamental,” he said.
