Carbon Capture and Storage: Challenges and Opportunities – Panel Debate

16:50, Wednesday 23 November 2011, The Geological Society

The Carbon Capture and Storage industry in the UK is thought by many to have the potential to become as large as the North Sea oil and gas industry has been over the past 40 years. If this can be achieved, it will be a major contribution to meeting our carbon emissions targets, and could generate significant value for the economy. Is this ambition realistic? What are the scientific, technical, regulatory, economic, political and social challenges?

The Geological Society, together with the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, is holding a joint two-day research conference on Carbon Capture and Storage on 22-23 November, bringing together geoscientists and reservoir engineers to discuss scientific and technical challenges, uncertainties and opportunities for CO2 storage.

The conference will conclude with a panel debate, at which the conference delegates will be joined by an invited audience of those from government, industry, regulators, NGOs and others involved in planning and policy-making. A distinguished panel will lead a discussion of the policy-making, regulatory, economic and social context for CCS, and the
broader implications of the issues discussed over the previous two days, chaired by conference convenor Professor Jon Gluyas. The panellists are:

Dr David Reiner (Senior Lecturer in Technology Policy, Judge Business
School, University of Cambridge)

Professor Richard Macrory (Professor of Environmental Law, University
College London)

Mr Mervyn Wright (Technical Lead, CCS Demonstration Project, Department
of Energy and Climate Change)

Dr Bryan Lovell (Senior Researcher, University of Cambridge / President
of the Geological Society)

Registration will be from 16:15 on Wednesday 23 November. The discussion will run from 16:50 to 18:00, and will be followed by a drinks reception.

We very much hope you will be able to join us for this debate. If you wish to attend, please email policy@geolsoc.org.uk, stating your name and job title/preferred affiliation. There is no charge for attending the debate.

(Places at the conference itself are still available – full details and registration are at www.geolsoc.org.uk/ccs_nov2011.)