Comparing the development and deployment of carbon capture and storage technologies in Norway, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and the United States- An innovation system perspective

In order to take up the twin challenge of reducing CO2-emissions, while meeting a growing energy demand, the potential deployment of CCS is attracting a growing interest of policy makers around the world. In this study we evaluate and compare national approaches towards the development of CCS in the U. S. A, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway and Australia. The analysis is done by using the functions of innovation systems approach. This approach implicates that new technology is developed, demonstrated and deployed in the context of a technological innovation system. By the assessment made in this study the strengths and weaknesses of the innovation systems are identified, which is vital for the development of a coherent (long-term) policy strategy that enhance the successful implementation of CCS. The performance assessment and comparison of the CCS innovation systems shows that the extensive knowledge base and knowledge networks, which have been accumulated over the past years, has not yet been valorized by entrepreneurs to explore the market for integrated CCS concepts linked to power generation. This indicates that the build-up of the innovation system has entered a critical phase that is decisive for a further thriving development of CCS in Norway, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia and the USA. In order to move the CCS innovation systems through this present difficult episode and deploy more advanced CCS concepts at a larger scale; it is necessary to direct policy initiatives at the identified weak system functions, i.e. entrepreneurial activity, market formation and the mobilization of resources. Moreover, in some specific countries governmental guidance and the creation of legitimacy also needs more attention. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved