Long-run climate change mitigation projections made by institutions from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to national and sub-national governments suggest that carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) may play a key role in achieving mid- and late-century decarbonization goals. Despite the important role envisioned for CCUS by institutions and researchers, however, development has been slow for industrial emissions and power sector applications considered potentially well-suited for CCUS. Recent work by the National Academies suggests that geologic sequestration is ready for large-scale deployment from a physical science perspective. However, research in economics, operations research, political science, and the other social sciences seeking to understand the likelihood of deploying CCUS at scale, the barriers to doing so, and the tradeoffs involved in public policies promoting CCUS, remains thin.
With support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Wyoming are engaged in a three-year research project on these topics. The project is directed by Sheila Olmstead (UT Austin), Ben Leibowicz (UT Austin), Chuck Mason (Wyoming), and Andrew Waxman (UT Austin). One important goal of our project is to increase the number and diversity of scholars in economics and the other social sciences conducting work on CCUS.
Toward this goal, we are issuing this call for proposals on CCUS economics and policy. We invite prospective authors to submit proposals for new, original research papers on any aspect of CCUS economics and policy by Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, sent by e-mail to Sheila Olmstead (sheila.olmstead@austin.utexas.edu).
Get all the details on the project website.