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A Trojan horse for climate policy: Assessing carbon lock-ins through the Carbon Capture and Storage-Hydrogen-Nexus in Europe

Faber, Lena ; Busch, Henner LU orcid and Lefstad, Lina LU (2025) In Energy Research & Social Science 120(February 2025).
Abstract
The global energy landscape is entrenched in fossil fuels, shaping modern life profoundly. Germany, a prominent example, grapples with transitioning from its fossil-fuelled infrastructure despite governmental support for decarbonization. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen appear as crucial tools in this transition. A recent partnership between Germany and Norway seeks to leverage Norway's CCS and hydrogen expertise to aid Germany's decarbonization efforts. However, CCS faces criticism for potential mitigation deterrence and carbon lock-ins, perpetuating fossil fuel reliance. This study critically analyses the Norwegian-German CCS-Hydrogen-Nexus, focusing on potential carbon lock-ins. By examining specific projects, institutional... (More)
The global energy landscape is entrenched in fossil fuels, shaping modern life profoundly. Germany, a prominent example, grapples with transitioning from its fossil-fuelled infrastructure despite governmental support for decarbonization. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen appear as crucial tools in this transition. A recent partnership between Germany and Norway seeks to leverage Norway's CCS and hydrogen expertise to aid Germany's decarbonization efforts. However, CCS faces criticism for potential mitigation deterrence and carbon lock-ins, perpetuating fossil fuel reliance. This study critically analyses the Norwegian-German CCS-Hydrogen-Nexus, focusing on potential carbon lock-ins. By examining specific projects, institutional frameworks, and industry involvement, we aim to elucidate the partnership's implications for carbon lock-ins. This critical case holds significance for Europe's largest economy and offers insights applicable to CCS technology globally. We find that the current setup perpetuates existing carbon lock-ins both in Germany and Norway. Central problems are the interchangeability of blue and green hydrogen, asset specificity of pipeline and pumping infrastructure and the central role which actors from the fossil fuel industry play in the rollout of the CCS-Hydrogen-Nexus. Our concern is that this approach might entrench the energy system in a socially unjust state. EU policy on blue hydrogen emerged as a factor that helps to avoid carbon lock-ins. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
carbon capture and storage, carbon lock in, hydrogen, ccs-hydrogen-nexus
in
Energy Research & Social Science
volume
120
issue
February 2025
article number
103881
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85211214267
ISSN
2214-6326
DOI
10.1016/j.erss.2024.103881
project
Burying problems? Imaginaries of carbon capture and storage in Scandinavia
How can CCS deployment be aimed towards just climate change mitigation?
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7f4d1cac-628d-4e03-8bc8-451005e4ab34
date added to LUP
2024-12-11 09:38:31
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:29:43
@article{7f4d1cac-628d-4e03-8bc8-451005e4ab34,
  abstract     = {{The global energy landscape is entrenched in fossil fuels, shaping modern life profoundly. Germany, a prominent example, grapples with transitioning from its fossil-fuelled infrastructure despite governmental support for decarbonization. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen appear as crucial tools in this transition. A recent partnership between Germany and Norway seeks to leverage Norway's CCS and hydrogen expertise to aid Germany's decarbonization efforts. However, CCS faces criticism for potential mitigation deterrence and carbon lock-ins, perpetuating fossil fuel reliance. This study critically analyses the Norwegian-German CCS-Hydrogen-Nexus, focusing on potential carbon lock-ins. By examining specific projects, institutional frameworks, and industry involvement, we aim to elucidate the partnership's implications for carbon lock-ins. This critical case holds significance for Europe's largest economy and offers insights applicable to CCS technology globally. We find that the current setup perpetuates existing carbon lock-ins both in Germany and Norway. Central problems are the interchangeability of blue and green hydrogen, asset specificity of pipeline and pumping infrastructure and the central role which actors from the fossil fuel industry play in the rollout of the CCS-Hydrogen-Nexus. Our concern is that this approach might entrench the energy system in a socially unjust state. EU policy on blue hydrogen emerged as a factor that helps to avoid carbon lock-ins.}},
  author       = {{Faber, Lena and Busch, Henner and Lefstad, Lina}},
  issn         = {{2214-6326}},
  keywords     = {{carbon capture and storage; carbon lock in; hydrogen; ccs-hydrogen-nexus}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{February 2025}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Energy Research & Social Science}},
  title        = {{A Trojan horse for climate policy: Assessing carbon lock-ins through the Carbon Capture and Storage-Hydrogen-Nexus in Europe}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2024.103881}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.erss.2024.103881}},
  volume       = {{120}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}