The Social Dynamics of Carbon Capture and Storage Understanding CCS Representations, Governance and Innovation

About this book

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has rapidly emerged as a crucial technological option for decarbonising electricity supply and hence mitigating climate change. It is attracting interest and support from a wide field of actors, and great hopes are being pinned on its deployment over the coming decade. At the same time that CCS is at the stage of entering large-scale demonstration around the world, scepticism and criticism is growing in some places. A number of basic questions remain to be debated and answered to address these concerns--what form the technology will take, how well it will work, how economic and beneficial it will be, what risks it entails, and how it fits with other energy and climate mitigation options to meet goals of long-term sustainability.

This book for the first time brings together a range of social science perspectives and policy issues on CCS, to shed new light on this potentially vital technology and its future. It covers many crucial topics: the roles and positions of different publics, NGOs and industry actors; the way CCS is organised, supported and regulated; how innovation, demonstration and learning are occurring and being conceptualised and promoted; and the perceived role of CCS in the transition to a low carbon energy future.

The contributions draw on a variety of approaches, concepts, methods and themes from across the social sciences, and show how interdisciplinary perspectives can help us understand innovation in the energy and climate change fields. The book thereby addresses several issues related to CCS in a way that speaks to audiences looking to understand the role of emerging technologies in different social contexts; to practitioners who are involved in the scientific and technological work itself; and to policymakers charged with evaluating and making decisions relevant to the future of the technology.

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Biography

Nils Markusson has 15 years experience in the area of innovation and technology studies. After working at the Swedish government, he undertook a PhD at the University of Edinburgh on cleaner technology and firm organisation. He currently works as a Research Associate at the Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage on several projects on aspects of CCS innovation. Throughout he has sought to understand how we use technology in society with as little environmental impact as possible, and what policy is needed to that end.

Simon Shackley works on assessing options for removal and storage of CO2. This includes techno-economic, socio-political and policy evaluation and implications. He first became interested in CCS in 2000 having analysed the potential limitations of carbon mitigation from other leading options.

Benjamin Evar is a PhD student at the Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage research centre at the University of Edinburgh. His research focuses on the emerging governance of carbon capture and storage, and the role of science in policymaking.