Assessing the viability of carbon capture, utilisation and storage technology for decarbonisation in Mexico: advancing decision-making tools

Abstract

This thesis explores the viability of Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage for driving decarbonisation in Mexico by adopting an interdisciplinary approach and employing systems thinking to develop decision-making tools. The research facilitates theoretical exploration and practical collaboration through participatory processes and innovative methodologies that provide a new perspective for evaluating CCUS. The central objectives of the thesis are to support decision-making, raise awareness of the interconnections between people and the environment through technology, help identify potential consequences of CCUS application, and foster a shift in the traditional forms of project evaluation. The research entails multi-scale analysis and mixed methods to provide a basis for a comprehensive assessment of CCUS.

The tools and methods include a multicriteria analysis of CCUS encompassing technical, socio-political and environmental components; a methodology to explore stakeholders´ narratives about CCUS throughout a participatory process; and a consequential carbon accounting method to estimate the system-wide change in emissions caused by CCUS application.

The study is focused on CCUS in Mexico, but the methods can be adapted to other climate mitigation technologies and contexts for their analysis and comparison. The outputs of this thesis seek to contribute to the decarbonisation efforts, particularly in Mexico and other Global South nations, where technological solutions are quickly penetrating as a potential response to sustainability challenges and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, both locally and globally.