Once carbon has been captured, the next piece of the puzzle is storing it. One option being explored in Iceland is to mineralise the carbon so it forms as solid rock below the ground—providing a more permanent storage solution. With the growth of carbon markets around the world, the finances behind this plan are also looking solid
A business case is materialising at a carbon capture project in Iceland that could help reduce the amount of harmful particles in the atmosphere
ROCK SOLID Current carbon storage techniques require constant monitoring. Converting the gas into solid rock reduces this need
SHIPPING CONCERNS A global trade network for carbon could materialise so it can be transported to where storage makes the most sense
KEY QUOTE Mineralisation is a permanent storage solution. We are not putting CO2 in a cave and monitoring if it comes out. We are changing the CO2 into rock ...
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If the global marine transportation sector were a country, it would be ranked sixth in terms of CO2 emissions. A number of progressive leaders in the industry are starting to explore alternative ways to propel their ships, but more investment is needed.
Reforms to Europe’s carbon trading system have pushed up prices. Gas was expected to be the main beneficiary, but wind and solar may be the real winners given challenges in the gas market and the falling price of renewables
Geothermal heating has plenty of potential as a long-term solution to decarbonise heating and cooling systems
Corporate attempts to match every hour of consumption with renewable production could pave the way for grid decarbonisation
As the energy landscape changes, so too could the geopolitical spectrum. Nations that have derived power and wealth from coal, oil and gas face an adapt-or-die moment while countries with the natural resources central to decarbonisation could find themselves holding more cards
Enthusiasm for e-fuels is growing, but it is still unclear where the renewable energy will come from to produce them
Much as in the energy transition debate, the big question is who pays for carbon removal
The European Union is deciding which technologies and projects should have access to crucial funding. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology has its issues but some lawmakers and industries believe emission reduction targets cannot be met without it
Geoengineering efforts offer a science fiction-style get-out option as the effort to avert catastrophic climate change comes down to the wire. Interest and investment in such projects shift resources away from the mainstream energy transition but some suggest the value of the research lies in a worst-case scenario
As with other hard-to-abate sectors, the shipping industry is facing many challenges to decarbonise sufficiently by 2050. Currently, the alternative fuel of choice for many is liquified natural gas (LNG) but the short-term gains negate the persistent long-term emissions. There are genuine low-carbon alternatives at hand if shipping can adjust its outlook