CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) is a promising technology for climate change mitigation. This technology path prevents CO2 entering into the atmosphere, and could probably reduce global emissions to a great extent. Due to the increase of global energy demands, following business-as-usual projections, a CO2 emission growth of 62 percent is expected by 2030. More than 50 percent of this growth will probably stem from newly industrialising countries (e.g. China) and will to a great extent be caused by big power plants using coal or gas as fuel. CCS could therefore play a key role in reducing future global emissions, especially from coal-fired power plants. However, many questions still remain unresolved in the context of CCS, related for example to technological, economic, ecological and socio-economic aspects.

Against this background Research Group 1 addresses technology questions, strategies and infrastructure aspects as well as possible economic and political frameworks of CO2 capture, transport and storage. Other issues such as environmental impacts, safety and public perceptions also come into the picture.