The world needs energy, and thus it needs carbon capture and storage, Michael Crothers, president and country chair of Shell Canada, wrote in an op-ed published Sunday in the Globe and Mail. CCS has not matured as far as other low-carbon sources of energy, but that is no reason to ignore its importance, Crothers wrote. “Laptops have come a long way since the GRiD Compass in 1982. Mobile phones have moved on a lot since the first working prototype in 1973. And, today, there is another technology out there with the potential to be revolutionary. Although it will never fit in your bag or pocket, it is struggling to gain the recognition it deserves, just like the laptop and cellphone before it. That technology is CCS: carbon capture and storage,” he stated.
Crothers added that while the technology is still expensive and underutilized, and does not enjoy the same kind of support given to renewables, it is vitally important to the global energy transition. “Despite its promise, CCS seems to be the Cinderella of the world’s energy transition. It is yet to be invited to the ball. Instead, attention is focused on renewable energy and efficiency measures,” Crothers said.
Renewable sources of energy are also key to dealing with climate change, but they should not be regarded as the only solution, according to Crothers. “There is no single answer,” he wrote.