Emissions capture

Even as countries debate how much greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced and by when, many nations, including the United States and European Union members, have said carbon capture and storage (CCS) will be important in lowering emissions over the short- and medium-term.

Industrialized and developing nations have said they will need to rely on coal and other less environmentally friendly means of producing electricity until renewable energy sources are more developed.

"The switch to a low-carbon society will require major research and development efforts related to renewable energies and energy efficiency," said Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who is hosting the two days of CSS talks that began on Wednesday, May 27.

Government and industry officials stress that they see CSS technology as a stopgap measure to prevent harmful greenhouse gasses from damaging the atmosphere and not as a replacement for investing in the development of renewable energy sources.

Programs underway in Germany

In March, the German Cabinet approved a draft law that provides a legal framework for utility companies that would like to pump carbon dioxide from dirty coal-fired plants into the ground before it can enter the atmosphere.

Companies would be allowed to use CCS technology to siphon off harmful CO2 emissions at the source and then store them in underground facilities, such as disused gas or oil fields.

In the meantime, agreement is growing within the government that coal will remain one of the most important sources of energy in Germany for decades to come, especially since nuclear power is scheduled to be phased out completely by 2022.

Who stands to profit most?

Some political observers see the draft bill as a victory for the coal lobby and a clear broadside against renewable energy.

But German Economics Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg told Deutsche Welle that the assumption is wrong.

"The government is still very keen on supporting renewables," the minister said. "CSS is an added element when it comes to a viable national energy mix."

For Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel, it's too early to say whether carbon storage will be commercially viable in the long term.

"Coal-fired power stations only have a future if they can become less harmful to the environment," he said. "CCS could offer a solution."

Gabriel added that he is in favor of setting up at least three CCS test facilities in Germany.

Environmentalists not amused

While the government describes the law as a breakthrough and supporters say CCS could buy time until cleaner energy sources are developed, many environmental groups are less enthusiastic.

Greenpeace Germany's Tobias Muenchmeyer said questions regarding the safe storage of CO2 remain unresolved.

"We simply don't know right now how to safely store such materials over a long period," Muenchmeyer said. "Even if it worked, the technology could be used in 10 to 15 years only, but we need an energy revolution much earlier."

The resources spent on testing carbon capture and storage should be invested in developing renewable energy sources, according to Muenchmeyer. He said he doubts whether a suitable underground storage site can be found for CO2 and warned against making "the same mistakes that have been made with regard to nuclear waste."

Germany's decades-long search for a final storage facility for atomic waste from nuclear power plants has so far proven unsuccessful.

Last September, a water leakage was found in an abandoned salt mine containing nuclear waste. The mine had been under consideration as a possible long-term disposal location for more of the country's radioactive waste before a report said it was in danger of collapsing.

Author: Hardy Graupner / Sean Sinico

Editor: Susan Houlton / Kate Bowen