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Conditional inevitability: Expert perceptions of carbon capture and storage uncertainties in the UK context

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  • Evar, Benjamin

Abstract

This paper presents findings on expert perceptions of uncertainty in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology and policy in the UK, through survey data and semi-structured interviews with 19 individual participants. Experts were interviewed in industry, research, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the summer of 2009 and were asked to comment on a range of technical processes as well as policy concerns. The survey revealed that perceptions of the technology conform to a 'certainty trough' with users expressing the lowest level of uncertainty, and outsiders expressing the highest level of uncertainty. The interviews revealed that experts express certitude in the prospects for deploying large-scale CCS technology in the UK, all the while questioning several underlying technical and policy premises that are necessary to ensure this goal.

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  • Evar, Benjamin, 2011. "Conditional inevitability: Expert perceptions of carbon capture and storage uncertainties in the UK context," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(6), pages 3414-3424, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:39:y:2011:i:6:p:3414-3424
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    1. Zyadin, Anas & Halder, Pradipta & Kähkönen, Tanja & Puhakka, Antero, 2014. "Challenges to renewable energy: A bulletin of perceptions from international academic arena," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 82-88.
    2. Davies, Lincoln L. & Uchitel, Kirsten & Ruple, John, 2013. "Understanding barriers to commercial-scale carbon capture and sequestration in the United States: An empirical assessment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 745-761.
    3. Martínez Arranz, Alfonso, 2015. "Carbon capture and storage: Frames and blind spots," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 249-259.

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    Keywords

    CCS Uncertainty Expert perceptions;

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