A Socio-technical Perspective On Carbon Capture, Utilization, And Storage Technologies In China—Through The MLP And SNM Approaches

Abstract

In 2020, China committed to peaking its carbon dioxide emissions before or by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) has been recognized as a crucial strategy for achieving global net-zero emissions. Although China has launched several notable demonstration projects and policy initiatives, the development of CCUS technologies remains in the early stages. The challenges to full-scale deployment go beyond technical barriers and encompass economic, political, and societal factors. While much research has focused on the technological aspects of CCUS, its societal integration has not been comprehensively explored. This study aims to address this gap by adopting a socio-technical perspective to examine the societal integration of CCUS using the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) and Strategic Niche Management (SNM) frameworks. The MLP studies both the external and internal dynamics of niche, encompassing three interactive levels: the landscape, the regime, and the niche. The SNM studies three internal processes of niche: expectations, social networks, and the learning process. By combining these theories, the paper identifies key dimensions and concepts of CCUS and analyzes national government policies through document coding and text analysis. Results indicate that China's CCUS transition is characterized by endogenous renewal, with incumbent actors in the coal industry collectively responding to external pressures and adjusting development trajectories. However, the study also finds that while expectations for CCUS are taking shape, the social network and learning processes necessary for effective implementation are underdeveloped. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers and industry leaders to devise strategies that address barriers to CCUS deployment and enhance its societal integration.

In 2020, China committed to peaking its carbon dioxide emissions before or by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) has been recognized as a crucial strategy for achieving global net-zero emissions. Although China has launched several notable demonstration projects and policy initiatives, the development of CCUS technologies remains in the early stages. The challenges to full-scale deployment go beyond technical barriers and encompass economic, political, and societal factors. While much research has focused on the technological aspects of CCUS, its societal integration has not been comprehensively explored. This study aims to address this gap by adopting a socio-technical perspective to examine the societal integration of CCUS using the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) and Strategic Niche Management (SNM) frameworks. The MLP studies both the external and internal dynamics of niche, encompassing three interactive levels: the landscape, the regime, and the niche. The SNM studies three internal processes of niche: expectations, social networks, and the learning process. By combining these theories, the paper identifies key dimensions and concepts of CCUS and analyzes national government policies through document coding and text analysis. Results indicate that China's CCUS transition is characterized by endogenous renewal, with incumbent actors in the coal industry collectively responding to external pressures and adjusting development trajectories. However, the study also finds that while expectations for CCUS are taking shape, the social network and learning processes necessary for effective implementation are underdeveloped. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers and industry leaders to devise strategies that address barriers to CCUS deployment and enhance its societal integration.