Capturing Carbon : The New Weapon in the War Against Climate Change

It is becoming feasible to take carbon dioxide from power stations and industry, and lock it away safely before it can enter the atmosphere. But can carbon capture compete with other low-carbon technologies, is it safe and environmentally-friendly, and will people and governments accept it? This book examines the need for carbon capture.

A new weapon is emerging to help us fight climate change. It is becoming feasible to take carbon dioxide from power stations and industry, and lock it away safely before it can enter the atmosphere. In the next few years, major demonstration programmes will start up in the USA, EU and elsewhere. But can carbon capture compete with other low-carbon technologies, is it safe and environmentally-friendly, and will people and governments accept it? "Capturing Carbon" examines the need for carbon capture, and the technologies, existing and emerging, that make it work. It describes geological storage and, uniquely, compares it to biological carbon sequestration in soils and forests. It looks at the costs, the economics, and how big a contribution carbon capture can make to avoiding dangerous climate change. It covers the policies that need to be in place, the public reaction, and the opportunities for business. Finally, it gives a hard-headed description of the risks of carbon capture projects. The book is the first comprehensive yet accessible study of the subject. It is a vital resource for environmentalists, policy-makers, investors, academics, industry specialists and anyone else wishing to understand this fast-moving field.