Must we capture and store carbon from coal to meet emission-reduction targets?

by BRIAN ROMANS

However, CCS is only feasible within the framework of an aggressive plan to reduce emissions — something the coal industry and advocates of clean coal discourage. The use of coal, even with advanced CCS technology, will never be “clean” in the way that this marketing campaign suggests. After all, the coal itself is not any cleaner — it’s the processing during energy extraction that reduces emissions. Another issue is that CCS may not be feasible technologically and it may be far too energy-intensive to make it worthwhile.

Earth for more