Way forward for China’s carbon capture

A landmark carbon capture and storage workshop in Beijing was held this week to consider the potential for carbon dioxide capture and storage in the Chinese power generation sector.

The meeting brought together the main Chinese and European carbon capture and storage research communities and experts, in support of the EU/China and the UK/China Near Zero Emissions Coal (NZEC) initiatives. International experts in this field also participated in the debates.

More than 70 European representatives and 80 Chinese participants attended the workshop, making this the largest gathering on carbon dioxide capture and storage in China.

The event followed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese government on near-zero emissions power generation technology. The MoU is designed to encourage the development of technology allowing the capture and underground storage of carbon dioxide emitted from coal-fired power stations, a matter of potential significance in the fight against climate change.

The workshop was funded by the UK Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Trade and Industry. It was supported by the European Commission's research Framework Programme, and was held in collaboration with the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology. The meeting was organised by The Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21.