CCSA - What We Do

What We Do

The Carbon Capture & Storage Association (CCSA) was launched in March 2006 to represent the interests of its members in promoting the business of capture and geological storage of carbon dioxide (known as Carbon Capture and Storage, or CCS) as a means of abating atmospheric emissions of carbon dioxide and, potentially, as a means of enhancing the production of fossil hydrocarbons. From its base in London the CCSA brings together specialist companies in manufacturing & processing, power generation, engineering & contracting, oil, gas & minerals as well as a wide range of support services to the energy sector such as law, banking, consultancy and project management. The Association is a model for sectoral cooperation in business development and its existence is welcomed by government.

As a non-technical trade association, the CCSA is unique in its focus on the business side of CCS and efforts to ensure commercial-scale CCS projects can play a part in moving towards a low-carbon global economy. To this end, the Association benefits from a close working relationship with the UK Government and European Commission in developing an appropriate regulatory framework for CCS and influencing policy developments on an international level.

CCS is the process by which CO2 emissions are captured from large scale energy conversion and industrial processes, transported by pipeline or other means, and injected into secure geological structures for permanent storage.

CCS is a relatively young climate change mitigation option which has received increasing media attention over the past 18 months. However, CCS is ready to be deployed today. The different types of capture technology; pre- and post-combustion as well as oxyfuel have all been proven to differing degrees. Post- and pre-combustion are closer large scale deployment.

As the world moves towards meeting energy demand through low-carbon technologies, carbon intensive fossil fuels will continue to play a significant part in meeting this demand in the near future. At present, CCS is the only technology that allows the continued use of fossil fuels without the associated environmental damage, as CCS removes approximately 90% of the CO2 emissions associated with burning fossil fuels.

CCS is applicable to all fossil energy conversion including coal, gas and petroleum coke, as well as for biomass. CCS is ideally suited for application to large point sources of CO2 such as power generation and oil & gas production, as well as a range of industrial sectors including petrochemical, steel, cement and agrochemical.