Read now volume 1 & 2 of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage by Pietro Guarato
2-volume publication on terrestrial-based CO2 recycling and storage
CO2 recycling
CO2 recycling (along with the recycling of other resources such as water and oxygen) is a core issue in the design of self-sustained life support systems in space. This topic is then relevant for possible applications outside our planet since, for example, the atmosphere on Mars is composed in large part (96%) of carbon dioxide. This is also an important tool in a terrestrial context, both to help to make our economies more circular and (along with CO2 capture and storage) to mitigate anthropogenic climate change.
Space and terrestrial-based applications
In this framework, the synergies of knowledge between space- and terrestrial-based applications appear very promising. Accordingly, the MELiSSA Foundation has co-financed a research project on terrestrial-based CO2 recycling and storage, which was conducted at the University of Lausanne and led to this 2-volume publication. This work constitutes a thorough assessment of climate change legislation with respect to the possible large-scale development of increasingly needed climate change mitigation options such as carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies.
EU and Swiss policies
From this perspective, we compare sectoral EU and Swiss policies often arising from previous international climate agreements. We then focus on the case of Switzerland and find that the regulatory gaps preventing a comprehensive policy of CCUS from taking place can be addressed without changing the structure of the current Swiss legal framework. We finally introduce a series of detailed original proposals improving the current climate-related legislation (mainly the CO2 Act) in order to regulate and boost the deployment of CCUS facilities: for instance, we propose a set of rules which would allow a straightforward subjection of any CCU processes to the current Swiss carbon pricing system.
“Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage – Volume 1: The technological and scientific framework” – Cahier de l’IDHEAP 315/2021 (ISBN 978-2-940667-06-2) - Read here.
“Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage – Volume 2: The institutional and legal framework” – Cahier de l’IDHEAP 316/2021 (ISBN 978-2-940667-05-5) - Read here.
Author: Pietro Guarato
Advisor: Prof. Stéphane Nahrath, Full Professor at IDHEAP (Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration), University of Lausanne
Co-advisor: Prof. Suren Erkman, Professor Emeritus at IDYST (Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics), University of Lausanne.