20 September 2011: The International Energy Agency (IEA) has published a report titled “Technology Roadmap – Carbon Capture and Storage in Industrial Applications,” which indicates that carbon capture and storage (CCS) could potentially reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industrial applications by four gigatons by 2050.

The report underlines that achieving this potential would require that 20% to 40% of all industrial and fuel transformation plants be equipped with CCS by 2050. It contains sections on: CCS in industry today; a vision for CCS in industrial applications; CCS technology milestones; policy, finance and international collaboration; and business opportunities.

The report notes that costs are still the primary barrier to wider deployment of CCS and that US$27 billion in incentives and government support are required for additional research and development, pilot plant testing and demonstration projects. The roadmap provides that an additional US$172 billion would be required from 2010 to 2030 for industrial CCS applications in developing countries, noting that CCS is the only way some industries can achieve deep emissions reductions.

The report is part of IEA’s Technology Roadmaps series that will cover a total of 19 energy technologies divided between supply and demand side applications. The aim of the Roadmaps is to enable quick momentum gains in energy technology development to confront global sustainability and energy security challenges. Each Roadmap addresses technical, legal, policy, economic and organizational aspects of advancing development of these respective technologies. [IEA Press Release] [Fold Out Brochure with Key Findings] [Publication: Technology Roadmap- Carbon Capture and Storage in Industrial Applications]