Making the case for carbon storage 

The dramatic increase in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) can be tackled by adapting techniques already used to enhance oil recovery in industrial processes, argues Dumé in the 12 September article. 

Carbon dioxide could be extracted from waste gases and subsequently compressed, ready for storage in geological reservoirs. Moreover, CCS could account for up to half of all emission reductions required, says the author. 

Many CSS techniques already exist today, but there are significant cost and legal issues to be overcome as well as safety and health risks which must be addressed, she adds. 

A big drawback of CSS is that the process requires energy, and adopting it would inevitably lead to an increase in the use of fossil fuels as well as inflationary tendencies in the cost of energy. 

However, although safe solutions to transport compressed CO2 must still be investigated, underwater instead of underground storage will help prevent and minimise leakages from CO2 depots, she says. 

CSS is a "stop-gap" solution to solving the problems of CO2 emissions, claims Dumé. 

Environmental activists are afraid that it might detract attention from "real issues", such as the production of large amounts of CO2 in the first place, she adds.

Promising recent innovations which have made the process and the storage safer and more cost-effective must be followed by further research and investment in order to optimise CCS techniques if they are to make a significant contribution, concludes Dumé.