Capturing Carbon

Book excerpt: We now possess the technology to capture carbon emissions as they are released into the atmosphere. After capture, the gas is trapped within facilities hidden far underground. As promising as this process sounds, can it really compete with the often cheaper, low-carbon technologies currently available, and is the practice really safe and eco-friendly? Furthermore, will governments and societies embrace this controversial method and integrate it fully into their economic markets? Capturing Carbon is one of the first books to seriously evaluate this issue, describing the need for this new technology and the components that make it work. Robin M. Mills, a longtime energy professional with a background in geology and economics, paints an accessible portrait of carbon capture's existing and projected technologies. He covers the specifics of geological storage and, interestingly, compares it to the biological sequestering of carbon occurring naturally in soils and forests. With a frank and unbiased analysis, Mills considers the costs of this process and its value in curbing climate change.He tackles the politics and policies that will help the technology take root, and he anticipates the public's reaction and opportunities for business. Mills also accounts for the risks of carbon capture, rounding out a definitive and all-encompassing volume for environmentalists, policymakers, investors, industry insiders, and anyone wishing to understand these new developments.