Why Terminology Matters for Successful Rollout of Carbon Dioxide Utilization Technologies

Journal Article · 30 May 2022 · Frontiers in Climate

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2022.830660 · OSTI ID:1873663

Olfe-Kräutlein, Barbara ^[1]; Armstrong, Katy ^[2]; Mutchek, Michele ^[3]; Cremonese, Lorenzo ^[1]; Sick, Volker ^[4]

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1. Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Potsdam (Germany)
2. Univ. of Sheffield (United Kingdom)
3. National Energy Technology Lab. (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
4. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

To realize their full sustainability potential, carbon dioxide utilization technologies (carbon capture and utilization/CCU) presently require policy support. Consequently, they require acceptance among a variety of stakeholders in industry, policy making, and in the public sphere alike. While CO₂ utilization is already a topic of discourse among these stakeholders, there is a lack of common terminology to describe such technologies. On the contrary: The present article shows that terminology in the field of CO₂ utilization technologies is currently used inconsistently, and that different designations such as CCU, CCUS, or CDR convey different meanings and contexts. These ambiguities may cause communication problems with regard to policy making, funding proposals, and especially in public discourse. In order to initiate and accompany a goal-oriented and knowledge-based debate on CO₂ utilization technologies in the future, actors in the field are asked to question their own choices of terminology and to assess its accuracy. Acronyms and technical abbreviations are the chief cause of potential misunderstandings, and so should be avoided whenever possible or else include a brief explanation. Consistent and precise use of terminology will facilitate transparent dialogue concerning CO₂ utilization in the future.

• Research Organization: National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE); Global CO2 Initiative
• Grant/Contract Number: FE0025912
• OSTI ID: 1873663
• Journal Information: Frontiers in Climate, Journal Name: Frontiers in Climate Vol. 4; ISSN 2624-9553
• Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English