The first and main challenge for the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) is arguably the high cost of such large scale technologies. CCS is for deep-pocketed corporates, and governments who see the future of their large emitters at stake in an increasingly environmentally-conscious world. At the Cleantech Forum XXVII in Paris, CCS experts gathered for the “Carbon Capture & Storage: In Search of Risk Finance” panel session. The outcome of the panel talk was clear: CCS is not yet a playground for venture capitalists (VC). The costs involved in building even just a single CCS unit are outside of a VC’s scope.

Small innovation companies in this area are sparse for this exact reason. However, the panel of speakers agreed that this could easily change and become a hot VC investment area within less than 10 years. That depends on the extent research and development moves forward, and on the deployment of commercial-size demonstration projects to prove the technology is a viable one. Interestingly, U.S. West Coast VCs seem to be one length ahead of the others in that they are already looking for good CCS companies to pour their dollars into.

So what fuels CCS at the moment? Below is a list …