How good data can fuel carbon capture and storage adoption for power plants

CCS is vital to complying with recent EPA emissions mandates, but slow permitting and inadequate data are delaying deployment.

There’s no panacea for mitigating climate change. As the United States works to transition to cleaner energy systems, our ability to hold global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid catastrophic weather impacts hinges on power producers concurrently deploying an array of decarbonization solutions to eliminate climate pollution from the sector by 2035. Carbon capture and storage, or CCS, is an essential tool in their arsenal, and it’s at a critical inflection point.

Demand for CCS is being fueled by tax incentives and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new mandate that took effect in July. The rules require that existing coal-fired and new gas-fired power plants operating more than 40% of the time and set to operate past 2039 control 90% of their carbon pollution by 2032. However, a long and laborious state and federal permit approval process is delaying the launch and operation of scores of potential carbon sequestration sites across the country.

For utility companies and power providers balking at the EPA’s eight-year timeline for compliance, this lack of progress is proof that CCS isn’t a viable solution for their timeframe. But for now, the deadline stands. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected emergency applications requesting a hold on the EPA’s 2032 carbon rule. Coal-fired and new gas-fired power plants will not be able to comply without implementing CCS, which means it’s more urgent than ever.

In their need get the ball rolling, frustrated applicants are foregoing one of the most critical actions needed for both near and long-term CCS success: drilling a sequestration test well to gather localized data. Skipping this step can lead to further delays, more costly site development and maintenance issues.

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