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TLDR:
- Germany is adopting carbon storage technology to manage gas emissions.
- The technology will enable the country to control carbon emissions from gas-fired power plants.
Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action presented a draft law to allow the use of carbon capture utilisation (CCU) and storage (CCS) as part of the country’s emissions strategy. The technology will help control carbon emissions from gas-fired power plants without subsidies, but it will remain prohibited for emissions from coal-fired generation. Federal Minister Robert Habeck emphasized that the adoption of CCU and CCS technology is vital for achieving climate goals and ensuring the competitiveness of Germany’s industrial sector. Despite some historical controversy surrounding the technology, there is increasing recognition of its importance in avert emissions and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The adoption of CCU and CCS technology is seen as crucial to achieving a 1.5-degree warming scenario and could provide significant carbon savings by 2070. In Germany, the technology will be applied to gas-fired power stations to gradually reduce fossil fuel use. However, concerns remain about the scalability of the technology and its implications for achieving net-zero targets. The inclusion of CCUS in Germany’s draft law signals openness to diverse technologies for energy transition but also raises questions about reliance on unproven technology.
The move to adopt CCU and CCS technology reflects Germany’s commitment to tackling emissions from hard-to-abate industries and achieving its climate goals in the industry sector. While the technology will not be used for coal-fired generation, plans for a coal phase-out are still on track, and the focus will be on managing emissions from natural gas usage. This shift in strategy signals a broader transition towards cleaner energy sources and a more sustainable industrial landscape in Germany.
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