China's carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) policy: A critical review

Abstract

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), has been deemed an essential component for climate change mitigation and is conducive to enabling a low-carbon and sustainable future. Since the 12th Five-year Plan, China has included this technology as part of its future national carbon mitigation strategies. China's policy framework in relation to CCUS has had a strong influencing role in the technology's progress to date. This paper employs the "policy cycle" to analyze China's existing CCUS regulatory framework at the national and provincial level, evaluate its performance and clarify its shortcomings in light of the comparisons of policy movements undertaken in other countries. The results indicate that China's CCUS policy is insufficient for further development of the technology and many issues remain to be solved. This includes the lack of an enforceable legal framework, insufficient information for the operationalisation of projects, weak market stimulus, and a lack of financial subsidies. These factors may be the reason we have seen low participation rates of Chinese companies in CCUS and little public understanding of what the technology offers. To overcome these challenges, suggestions are provided for improving China's CCUS legal and policy framework.

Analysis of the State of the Art of International Policies and Projects on CCU for Climate Change Mitigation with a Focus on the Cases in Korea

“…The plan also stresses placing priority on promoting the utilization of renewable energy and reducing CO 2 . Table 2 shows China's CCS-and CCU-related laws, policies, and facilities by period [9,13,14,21,[29][30][31]. [30,32,33].…”

Carbon Capture Utilization for Biopolymer Foam Manufacture: Thermal, Mechanical and Acoustic Performance of PCL/PHBV CO2 Foams

“…There is a growing interest in developing a net zero approach for utilization of generated CO 2 in products. This is driving the increased use of CO 2 and other anthropogenic gas emissions from Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) to Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. The Congress of the United States, through its bipartisan act of 2018, has earmarked potential pathways for the utilization of CO 2 [ 7 ].…”

The integration of hydrogenation and carbon capture utilisation and storage technology: A potential low‐carbon approach to chemical synthesis in China

“…[14][15][16] It has initially formed a work pattern of government guidance, market-led, enterprise participation, and demonstration first, showing a good situation of various technology paths, complete project types, and orderly deployment. 17,18 Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic represents both a threat and an opportunity for CCUS: decades of experience in developing projects and the crisis caused by climate change will significantly increase CCUS potential.…”