Managing Carbon, Managing Futures: A Study of Sociotechnical Imaginaries in the Rollout of CCUS in Denmark
(2025) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20251LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
- Abstract
- Carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) is set to play a key role in decarbonization. Most of the technologies are yet to be seen on commercial scale. Denmark is in the process of establishing some of the first large-scale CCUS value-chains. Through a combination of document analysis and interviews, I study the ideas driving the current roll-out of CCUS in Denmark. To do this, I make use of the analytical concept of sociotechnical imaginaries. Through my work, I find that CCUS is mobilised as a necessary tool for halting climate change. It is also envisioned as a profitable business adventure and with potential to secure Denmark’s image as a climate frontrunner. This leads me to discuss how the rollout of CCUS is driven by an... (More)
- Carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) is set to play a key role in decarbonization. Most of the technologies are yet to be seen on commercial scale. Denmark is in the process of establishing some of the first large-scale CCUS value-chains. Through a combination of document analysis and interviews, I study the ideas driving the current roll-out of CCUS in Denmark. To do this, I make use of the analytical concept of sociotechnical imaginaries. Through my work, I find that CCUS is mobilised as a necessary tool for halting climate change. It is also envisioned as a profitable business adventure and with potential to secure Denmark’s image as a climate frontrunner. This leads me to discuss how the rollout of CCUS is driven by an approach to climate mitigation which centres technological development and market-driven mechanisms. I conclude that, while CCUS might be deemed necessary for industrial decarbonisation, the technologies are unlikely to foster wide-reaching change, thus it remains key to continuously scrutinize its role in climate mitigation and the construction of more climate-friendly societies. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9202069
- author
- Brix Georgsen, Kara LU
- supervisor
-
- Henner Busch LU
- Jonas Allesson LU
- organization
- course
- MESM02 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- CCUS, industrial decarbonisation, carbon infrastructure, climate change mitigation, sociotechnical imaginaries, ecomodernism, sustainability science
- publication/series
- Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
- report number
- 2025:046
- language
- English
- id
- 9202069
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-18 11:58:28
- date last changed
- 2025-06-18 11:58:28
@misc{9202069, abstract = {{Carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) is set to play a key role in decarbonization. Most of the technologies are yet to be seen on commercial scale. Denmark is in the process of establishing some of the first large-scale CCUS value-chains. Through a combination of document analysis and interviews, I study the ideas driving the current roll-out of CCUS in Denmark. To do this, I make use of the analytical concept of sociotechnical imaginaries. Through my work, I find that CCUS is mobilised as a necessary tool for halting climate change. It is also envisioned as a profitable business adventure and with potential to secure Denmark’s image as a climate frontrunner. This leads me to discuss how the rollout of CCUS is driven by an approach to climate mitigation which centres technological development and market-driven mechanisms. I conclude that, while CCUS might be deemed necessary for industrial decarbonisation, the technologies are unlikely to foster wide-reaching change, thus it remains key to continuously scrutinize its role in climate mitigation and the construction of more climate-friendly societies.}}, author = {{Brix Georgsen, Kara}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, series = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}}, title = {{Managing Carbon, Managing Futures: A Study of Sociotechnical Imaginaries in the Rollout of CCUS in Denmark}}, year = {{2025}}, }