Brad Wall and the elusive goal of carbon capture and storage

The hot and cold relationship political leaders have with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is seemingly never ending.

The idea is attractive.Carbon capturetrapsand buries carbon dioxide from coal and otherpower plants, so it cannot warm the climate. However,the execution turns out to be tricky.

In the U.K. last month, the governmentabruptly cancelleda1-billion ($2 billion)plan to develop its own carbon capture project. The two private companies in the running bothabandoned their plans to construct facilitiesonce they knewthere wouldn't be any public funding.

Just one month earlier, the U.K. government's own advisers had praised the technology, commenting it would be "very important for reducing emissions across the economy."

• New tone by Canada and Alberta noticed at COP21 climate talks
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It's another curious, yet not uncommoncase in the short history of carbon capture. One moment leaders spout about the wonderful fledging technology, the next moment they're pulling the plug.

SaskPoweris engaged with interests around the world who are taking a look at it.Brad Wall, Saskatchewan premier

Alberta has gonethrough a somewhat similar experience.Under former premier Ed Stelmach, the provincial government promised billions of dollars to construct carbon capture facilities in 2008. The ambitious goal was to reduceprojected emissions by 200 megatonnes by 2050, 70 per centof which would be achieved through carbon capture.

Four private sector projects were proposed. In 2012, the first company dropped out, followed by a second the following year. Theremaining two projects have gone ahead. Shell's Quest project opened recently andEnhance Energy's trunk line is expected to open in 2017.

Alberta's attitude towardcarbon capturehas changed significantly since its original enthusiasm. Before Jim Prentice became premier, hedescribed carbon captureas not the "panacea," adding"it's not capable of achieving the reductions in emissions that are required, and it is expensive, and in certain contexts, it's quite unproven."

Alison Redford on carbon capture and storage

9 years ago

Duration 0:59

Alison Redford's take on carbon capture and storage

The current NDP government says nofurther funding is plannedfor carbon capture and storage.

Saskatchewan's eagerness

The attitude in neighbouring Saskatchewan is completely different.

Wall sees carbon captureas a weapon against the high emissions from coal in Saskatchewan and around the world.

"We have fielded interest specifically from China," he said in an interview with CBC News."SaskPower is engaged with interests around the world who are taking a look at it."

It's definitely not the silver bullet.AminAsadollahi,PembinaInstitute

This fall, SaskPower signed a deal withBHP Billiton, theworld's largest mining company,to share information and research.

"I think you'll see another announcement with them here inthe weeks and months ahead as they continue their interest in the project," said Wall.

B.C. recently decided to change legislation to open the door to carbon capture projects.

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the International Energy Agency have both supported the technology.

High costs

Still, the carbon capturetechnology hasn't blossomed into the mainstream.The capitalcosts are high and the operating formula can be challenging.A milestone for theindustry will be the point when facilities are constructed and operated without any government subsidies.

"They were certainly expensive when they were introduced in Alberta, and the other issue is whether or not they are economically feasible," said former Alberta premier Alison Redford in an interview at the Paris climate change conference. Redford now leads theCanadian Transition Energy Initiative with the Conference Board of Canada.

"A couple of the companies decided it was not economically feasible," she said.

Pembina Institute on CCS

9 years ago

Duration 0:59

Amin Asadollahi discusses whether CCS can help fight climate change

Generally, environmentalists prefer moving away from fossil fuelsand boostingincentives forrenewable energy.

"CCS is one tool in the toolbox. It's definitely not the silver bullet," saidAminAsadollahi, with thePembinaInstitute."We need tode-carbonizeour economies in order to remain competitive in a world that is becoming increasingly carbon constrained."

As world leaders search for the answer to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Wall suggests that carbon capture can help countries such as India and China, which rely heavily on coal power plants.

"The world's problem needs to be solved by doing something about coal," said Wall. "We have technology that might provide some answers."