Vattenfall Latest to Ditch Carbon Capture and Storage Research

Vattenfall Ditches Carbon Capture and Storage Research - IEEE Spectrum:

Vattenfall, one of Europe’s largest energy producers, announced this week that it will discontinue its research and development activities in carbon capture and storage (CCS) for coal-fired power plants.
The move comes as Vattenfall looks to shore up costs as profits fall considerably for European power producers. Vattenfall said in a statement that research will continue in smart grid, wind, hydro, coal, and nuclear.
"Tough market conditions are expected to continue for another few years, and we are restructuring our research and development operations as it is becoming increasingly important to have the right knowledge at the right time to meet the ever-changing needs of business," Karl Bergman, head of R&D Nordic for Vattenfall, said in a statement.
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Despite years of research, CCS continues to be an expensive option to cut greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants. Even in the European Union, which has decarbonization policies, it has yet to become a commercial-scale, affordable option to keep older coal plants operating while producing fewer emissions.

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Vattenfall's move follows, by less than a year, Norway's abandonment of a CCS project, "that was dubbed as the country’s “moon landing” by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg."

I summed up some issues with other CCS projects in March's Bleak outlooks on Bio-energy and CCS. Since that post Southern Company's Kemper facility has experienced more delays and cost overruns.

Saskatchewan's Boundary Dam project may be the biggest hope for CCS still going - although it's April start date was also delayed.