2nd Guangdong International Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Conference Kicks off in Guangzhou

On May 15th, Shaohua Xu, the vice governor of Guangdong province, meet with Gregory Baker, Minister of State at UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), in Guangdong Electric Power Design Institute (GEDI). After that, they both attended the 2nd Guangdong International Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Conference there hosted by UK-China (Guangdong) CCUS Centre.

Shaohua Xu reviewed a series of important cooperation agreements and memorandums in energy cooperation and low carbon development signed with the UK during the Governor Zhu Xiaodan’s visit to the UK last year, and he emphasized the importance the of carbon dioxide capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology for energy conservation and emissions reduction and low carbon development in Guangdong Province.

He said: “As a key low-carbon technology, CCUS plays an irreplaceable role in considerably decreasing energy intensity and carbon intensity per GDP capita. Last September, Governor Zhu Xiaodan witnessed Guangdong and the UK signing a series of cooperation MoUs to promote CCUS academic and industrial communication. I was honourably invited to open the UK-China (Guangdong) CCUS Centre with NDRC Deputy Director Mr Xie Zhenhua last December. Today, I am exhilarated to see that the Centre’s perfect opening with the help from British Embassy in China, the British Consulate- General Guangzhou and Guangdong DRC. I sincerely hope that the Centre to continue its successful development in especially three areas, namely industrialization, piloting and financing, to provide intellectual support for Guangdong, China and the world. Also I am looking forward for the UK to provide further CCUS and other loe-carbon technologies for Guangdong, we will make all our efforts to the common green future for the UK, China and the world.”

Gregory Baker also referred to the MoU, and he said that UK (Guangdong) centre is the positive collaboration example and the important milestone between the two parties. He believes CCS has essential potential for emission reduction. CCS is developing significantly worldwide; UK has been allocated £1 billion funding support for the first CCS projects, and £125 million to develop CCS R&D projects. He also noticed that UK and China has a common goal of low carbon future, hope to have more policy cooperation and scientific research cooperation with China in the future.

The conference identified the nest step for CCUS demonstration, technology development, financing and communication in Guangdong. More than 20 distinguished Chinese and international CCUS experts shared their thoughts to get ready for the forthcoming large-scale demonstration projects in south China.

The director of UK-China (Guangdong) CCUS Center reported the work they have done in the past 6 months. Established in December 2013, this Center aims at carrying out research on Guangdong low carbon economic policies and strategies and near zero emission and CCUS technologies, promoting the industrialization of these technologies through demonstration projects, and building a low carbon economy in Guangdong province.

Since last year, the Center has set up 3 working groups on technologies, commercialization cooperation and demonstration projects as well as an international committee of 16 experts. The Center has also successfully accomplished China’s first ever large-scale coal-fired CCS ready project in China Resources Power Haifeng Power Plant.

In addition, Howden, Shell and Alstom shared their practical experiences on CCS project development during the Conference.