Carbon capture: unanswered questions in Luxembourg’s new framework document

Home / / Carbon capture: unanswered questions in Luxembourg's new framework document

The government wants to develop a framework for CO₂ capture, utilisation and storage (“carbon capture”) and has set up a task force for this purpose. To explain: the aim is to filter CO₂out of exhaust gases and either store it (underground in materials) or use it in other chemical processes. Unfortunately, numerous questions remain unanswered.

CO₂ capture and storage is intended to contribute to climate protection, particularly in industries where chemical processes generate emissions that cannot be avoided. The Luxembourg government wants to develop a framework for this. To this end, the stakeholders involved are being brought together in a kind of task force. As industry is particularly affected and non-governmental organisations have only limited resources, the committee is understandably dominated by industry and research, which is not conducive to a balanced discussion.

It is understandable that solutions must be found for certain industries. However, this also raises numerous questions from the perspective of proponents: Where could CO₂ be stored in Luxembourg? How can a connection to foreign infrastructures be established? Who would bear the costs? And how could permanent storage be guaranteed without greenwashing?

These questions are to be clarified in the task force, which includes representatives from industry, planning offices, transport companies, research institutions and also the Mouvement Ecologique.

The Mouvement Ecologique is following the dossier very critically, as CO₂storage is controversial for good reason. A study by the Öko-Institut from 2024 highlights a number of risks (safety, environmental risks, costs, etc.) and urges caution. .

Above all, however, the Mouvement Ecologique deeply regrets that the ministry is currently investing so many resources in this issue, while heat planning is not really progressing. Even if various circles have legitimate interests in carbon capture, heat planning should be a priority.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Translated by Deepl