Webinar slides - Public perceptions of CCS: Polling results from the Project Pioneer in Alberta, Canada

GLOBAL CCS INSTITUTE

Public perceptions of CCS: lessons from CanadaDon Wharton

TransAlta – Project Pioneer

WWW.GLOBALCCSINSTITUTE.COM


WELCOME

Your MC for today’s webinar …

Crispin Walker

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Crispin Walker Projects, Financial and Commercial Team Global CCS Institute


DON WHARTON

- Vice-President, Sustainable Development at

TransAlta Corporation

- Leads TransAlta’s CCS work on

environmental issues and knowledge transfer.

- Chair of the Canadian Clean Power Coalition

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- Chair of the Canadian Clean Power Coalition

(CCPC), Chair of the Canadian Working Group

of the International Emissions Trading

Association (IETA).

- Almost 30 years in the energy and

environment fields, both public and private

sector experience.

Chemical Engineering qualifications from the

University of Calgary.


QUESTIONS

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C C S O PI N I O N P O L L I N G

R E C E N T E X P E R I E N C E F R O M P R O J E C T P I O N E E R

Global CCS Institute Webinar

Sept 22, 2011

Don Wharton

VP Sustainable Development

TransAlta Corporation

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PROJECT PIONEER

• Post-combustion retrofit CCS project on 450MW supercritical coal plant

• Will capture 1 million tonnes/year

• $1.3B project to be operational in 2015

• Funded in part by Alberta and Canadian governments

• Full component project – capture, pipeline, storage

• Storage in both saline aquifer and enhanced oil recovery

• Managed by a consortium partnership – TransAlta, Enbridge, Capital Power

• Status: FEED underway, decision to proceed March 2012

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POLLING RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

– Measuring the issue agenda;

– Determining awareness, knowledge and viewpoints on CSS;

– Establishing the relative importance of CCS;

– Exploring how Albertans can best be educated on the subject;

– Determining awareness, knowledge & viewpoints on Project Pioneer;

– Compare changes in attitudes to 2010 survey.

The overarching objective of the polling is to provide a baseline of public

attitudes on CCS and to guide future communication initiatives.

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METHODOLOGY

• TransAlta commissioned Ipsos Reid* to conduct research with Albertans regarding CCS

• 1,600 telephone interviews were completed:

– 800 interviews conducted with a random sample of adult Albertans

– 400 additional interviews with community residents in the vicinity of Project Pioneer

– Another 400 interviews for Shell with residents near Shell’s Quest CCS Project

• The margins of error for the study were:

– Alberta General Public Sample + / - 3.5 percentage points; and,

– TransAlta Community Sample + / - 4.9 percentage points.– TransAlta Community Sample + / - 4.9 percentage points.

• Interviews were fielded from August 4th to 14th, 2011. The average interview length was 20

minutes.

This presentation will focus on results from the Alberta General Public

Sample of 800.

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* Ipsos Reid is Canada’s largest market research and public opinion polling firm, with over 500 research professionals. It operates the largest network of telephone call centres and consumer panels in Canada.


SUMMARY FINDINGS

1. Our 2011 polling results are highly consistent with those from 2010.

2. Public support for the concept of CCS in Alberta remains strong, although…

3. Natural awareness and understanding of CCS and projects is still modest.

4. A strong majority see CCS as no more risky than other energy infrastructures.

5. There’s a high desire for more information about CCS.

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5. There’s a high desire for more information about CCS.

6. A majority support government investment in CCS.

7. There’s majority support for continued use of coal for power generation if CCS

is deployed.


15%

21%

32%

URGENCY OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Very urgent

Urgent

Somewhat Urgent

36% 39%

2010

32%

16%

15%

2011 (n=800)

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A2. These days you may hear some people talking about climate change and global warming. For you personally is this an issue that is ...

Base: All respondents

Somewhat Urgent

Not Very Urgent

Not At All Urgent

32% 28%


UNAIDED AWARENESS OF APPROACHES INTENDED

TO REDUCE CO2 EMISSIONS

18%

10%

4%

4%

12%

5%

21%

19%

10%

9%

3%

16%

8%

Carbon Capture & Storage/ CCS

Alternative Energy (Net)

Wind power

Solar energy

Alternative energy

Environmentally Friendly Cars (Net)

Electric cars 5%

3%

2%

3%

19%

20%

20%

8%

4%

3%

4%

4%

45%

20%

20%

First Mention Other Mention

10Base: All respondents (n=800)

Electric cars

Hybrid cars

Environmentally friendly cars [incl. energy efficient, eco, new car etc.]

Reducing carbon emissions

Storage (General)

Other

Nothing

Don't Know

B1. As you are probably aware, efforts are being made to use new technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Canada. We're interested in learning how well information about these technologies has been communicated to Canadians. To the best of your knowledge, what technology or new approaches are - or soon will be - used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Canada?

*Note: Results <3% placed in ‘other’


TOTAL AWARENESS OF CCS

Unaided Awareness

“To the best of your knowledge, what technology or new approaches are – or soon will be – used to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Canada?”

CCS = 21%

(166 of 800 respondents) Total AwarenessTotal Awareness20102010

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Aided Awareness

“Before talking to me today, have you heard, seen or read anything about a technology called Carbon Capture

and Storage – also known by its initials as CCS?”

Yes = 55%

(351 of the remaining 634 respondents)

65%65%

2010

64%


WHAT IS CSS?

53%

40%

19%

7%

7%

4%

3%

3%

53%

41%

20%

8%

7%

6%

5%

5%

4%

Storing CO2/ carbon underground

Capturing carbon before it comes off/ going into the air

Pumps back carbon dioxide into caverns/ empty oil wells/

pipelines

Storage/ storing CO2/ carbon - unspecified

Heard about it/ know it exist

Good for the environment/ helps reduce emissions

Use for oil recovery/ get more oil

New (unproven) technology/ pilot project

Too expensive/ waste of money

12

B3. What is Carbon Capture and Storage or CCS? What have you heard about it?

Base: Aware of Carbon Capture and Storage (n=517)

4%

3%

3%

3%

9%

6%

6%

4%

4%

4%

3%

3%

3%

3%

3%

14%

6%

6%


Too expensive/ waste of money

Reusing/ recycling (for energy)

Being done in other countries/ part of Alberta and

Saskatchewan

Don't understand it (what it is, how it works, etc.)

I am opposed to it

Related to oil and gas industry

Government funding(in billions)/ pursuing it

Treating/ processing carbon (liquid or solid form)

May not work/ help the environment

Other

Nothing

Don't Know


13%

51%

14%

SUPPORT FOR CCS (AMONG THOSE AWARE OF CCS BEFORE STUDY)

Strongly support the use of CCS

Somewhat support the use of CCS

Somewhat oppose the use of CCS

64% 66%

2010

14%

11%

11%

2011 (n=517)

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B4. Based on what you know so far, do you...

Base: Aware of Carbon Capture and Storage

the use of CCS

Strongly oppose the use of CCS

Don't Know

25% 23%


DESCRIPTION OF CSS PRESENTED TO RESPONDENTS

“Carbon capture and storage – or CCS for short – is a technology that captures and stores the carbon dioxide released from large industrial facilities so that it does not enter the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is captured, transported by pipeline and injected into storage sites that are more than one kilometer underground and covered by dense layers of rock. The sites are monitored on an covered by dense layers of rock. The sites are monitored on an

ongoing basis into the future.”

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PERCEIVED BENEFITS OF CSS

22%

10%

7%

5%

23%

14%

23%

11%

7%

6%

23%

14%

Reduce/ Remove CO2 (Net)

Reducing CO2/ carbon in the atmosphere

Cutting down CO2 emissions

Removing CO2/ carbon from the environment

Prevent CO2 (Net)

Prevent CO2 from entering the atmosphere

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B5A. What do you think is the main benefit of CCS?

Base: All respondents (n=800)

14%

9%

7%

7%

5%

5%

5%

14%

9%

9%

9%

6%

6%

5%



Capture CO2/ carbon before it is released into the air

Decrease global warming/ greenhouse effect

Better air quality

Improve/ help the environment

Less pollution (unspecified)

Storing CO2/ carbon into the ground

(incl. carbon sequestration)


PERCEIVED DRAWBACKS OF CSS

18%

13%

10%

9%

4%

4%

3%

3%

3%

22%

17%

13%

10%

5%

4%

4%

4%

4%

Leakage/ ruptures

Cost/ expensive

The unknown (long term) effects/ the long term effects

Not addressing/ delaying (emission/ CO2) problem/

solution

Water pollution/ contamination of ground water

Underground storage/ sealing

Effect on the environment

Ineffective/ won't work

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B5B. What do you think is the main concern or drawback of CCS?


3%

3%

3%

3%

2%

2%

2%

22%

9%

7%

4%

4%

3%

3%

3%

3%

3%

38%

9%

7%


Soil pollution/ contamination of ground

Safeguards/ safety

Limited space for storage

Unproven technology

Waste of time/ money

Monitoring/ managing/ regulation concerns

Concerns with the amount of knowledge (of others)

Other

Nothing

Don't Know


PRIORITIZING & SUPPORTING CSS

40%

27%

24%

23%

38%

44%

42%

43%

79%

71%

66%

65%

CCS should be a top priority of

companies that produce energy

CCS will benefit Canada

CCS is part of a long term solution to

protecting the environment

I will think of companies who use CCS

more favourably than I did before

CCS is a good way to balance

Don’t know

11

13%

18%

14%

10

13%

15%

18%

21%

26%

32%

31%

Strongly Agree Somewhat AgreeStrongly DisagreeSomewhat Disagree

81%

72%

67%

68%

<1%

4%

2%

4%

2010

17

B6A. I'm now going to read you some statements about Carbon Capture and Storage overall. Please tell me whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each. The first statement is ... What about ... ?


20%

20%

21%

18%

21%

18%

45%

45%

40%

43%

40%

42%

65%

64%

61%

61%

60%

60%

CCS is a good way to balance

economic development and protecting

the environment

CCS will have a very positive impact

on the environment

CCS should - in part - be supported

by funding from government

I personally support CCS projects

CCS should be a top priority of

government

I would support the development of a

CCS project in my community

17%

15%

23%

18%

19%

23%

16%

16%

15%

18%

20%

14%

33%

31%

38%

36%

39%

37%

70%

69%

63%

63%

63%

63%

2%

5%

1%

3%

1%

3%


REASONS FOR SUPPORTING CCS PROJECTS

Good for the environment

Good idea/ it has merit


It's a good start/ doing something

Economical development/ more jobs

19%

14%

8%

8%

4%

18

B6B. Why do you say that? What is the main reason for saying that you agree (strongly/somewhat) with the statement, 'I personally support CCS projects'?

Base: Gen pop Alberta sample who Agree with the statement 'I personally support CCS projects‘ (n=486)

Support CCS

Good for people/ family/ future

Good for/ improve image of the province/

country

All other positive mentions

Other

Nothing

3%

3%

1%

8%

1%

1%


REASONS FOR NOT SUPPORTING CCS PROJECTS

Doesn't deal with the bigger problems/ not

long term/ there are better ways

Unproven technology

Won't provide any environmental benefits

Disagree with the idea/ the whole concept

Too expensive

Don't trust it/ the companies/ government

29%

15%

11%

11%

10%

10%

19

B6B. Why do you say that? What is the main reason for saying that you disagree (strongly/somewhat) with the statement, 'I personally support CCS projects'?

Base: Gen pop Alberta sample who Disagree with the statement 'I personally support CCS projects‘ (n=289)


Paid for by government/ taxpayers

May hurt environment

Waste my time/ not interesting

All other negative mentions

Nothing

Don't Know

10%

7%

3%

3%

3%

1%

1%


CCS will neither increase nor

decrease the total amount of fossil

fuels consumed by Canadians

Transporting CO2 to storage by

pipeline poses a low safety risk

Storing CO2 poses low risk for human

or animal health

VIEWS ON POTENTIAL CONCERNS FOR CCS

27%

18%

13%

40%

45%

38%

66%

63%

50%

60%

64%

33%

11%

10

15%

18%

21%

28%

29%

31%

43%

Don’t know Strongly Agree Somewhat AgreeStrongly DisagreeSomewhat Disagree

5%

6%

7%

2010

With CCS, CO2 will remain stored and

not cause greenhouse gas emissions

in the future

Storing CO2 poses low risk for soil or

water pollution

CCS can be implemented in a cost

effective manner for taxpayers and

consumers

The future results for the environment

of using CCS are well understood

20

B7. Next, I'd like to read you some more specific statements about Carbon Capture and Storage. Please tell me whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each one. The first is ... What about ... ?


11%

11%

8%

4

38%

32%

34%

22%

49%

43%

42%

26%

48%

30%

42%

26%

16%

19%

23%

38%

28%

29%

27%

34%

44%

49%

50%

71%

7%

8%

9%

3%


2010

VIEWS ON BENEFITS OF CSS

23%

25%

55%

51%

78%

76%

Using CCS will create jobs and

bring other economic benefits

CCS will allow energy

companies in Canada to

continue their activities while still

reducing carbon dioxide

emissions

CCS can be implemented more

1%

1%

7

11%

13%

12%

20%

23%

Strongly Agree Somewhat AgreeDon’t know Strongly DisagreeSomewhat Disagree

79%

79%

21

B8. Now, I'd like to read you some statements about benefits that people may think will come from using Carbon Capture and Storage. We'd like to know what you think about each of these possible benefits. Please tell me whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each one. The first is ... What about ...?


11%

15%

13%

43%

39%

35%

54%

54%

48%

CCS can be implemented more

quickly to benefit the

environment than can other

potential technologies and

approaches

CCS will help to increase the

amount of oil and gas that can

be produced in Canada

Using CCS will make it less

likely that we as Canadians will

have to significantly change our

lifestyles in order to reduce

carbon dioxide emissions

8%

5%

3%

14%

16%

23%

24%

26%

26%

38%

41%

50%

57%

54%

51%


2010

Yes = 74%

No28%

Don't know<1%

INTEREST IN INFORMATION ABOUT CCS

No = 26%

22

Yes71%

B9. If you could get information in a way that works well for you, would you be interested in learning more about how CCS is being used in Canada?



Yes7%

Don't know<1%

AWARENESS OF PROJECT PIONEER

2010

Yes = 7%

23

No92%

E5. Before talking to me today, did you know that TransAlta is developing a Carbon Capture and Storage Project called ProjectPioneer?

Base: Respondents who did not mention project Pioneer (n=799)

No = 93%


KNOWLEDGE OF PROJECT PIONEER (AMONG THOSE PREVIOUSLY AWARE)

12%

9%

7%

7%

14%

9%

7%

7%

Project has started/ they're working on it

Just the name/ that it exists

On the news/ newspaper

Project to capture CO2/ carbon

Funded/ supported/ approved by the

24

E6. What have you heard about TransAlta's Project Pioneer?

Base: Aware that TransAlta is developing a Carbon Capture and Storage Project called Project Pioneer (n=59*)

2%

2%

22%

32%

2%

2%

24%

32%

9%


Funded/ supported/ approved by the government

Heard from friends/ spouse

Other

Nothing

Don't Know

*Caution: Small base


IMPRESSIONS & SUPPORT FOR PIONEER

30%

22%

49%

50%

79%

72%

Project Pioneer will benefit

Alberta

Project Pioneer is a good way

to balance economic

development and protecting

the environment

80%

73%

8

11%

10%

14%

18%

25%

Don’t know

4%

3%


2010

25

E9. Now I'd like to read you some statements about Project Pioneer. Please tell me whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each one.


21%

22%

21%

48%

42%

42%

69%

64%

63%

Project Pioneer will have a

very positive impact on the

environment

Project Pioneer makes me

think of TransAlta more

favourably than I did before

I personally support Project

Pioneer

71%

66%

64%

11%

12%

14%

16%

21%

18%

27%

33%

32%

4%

3%

5%


REASONS FOR SUPPORTING PIONEER

Good idea/ it has merit

Good for the environment

Prevent CO2 from entering the

atmosphere

Economical development/ more jobs

It's a good start/ doing something

Good for/ improve image of the province/

country

23%

21%

10%

8%

5%

3%

26

E10. Why do you say that? What is the main reason for saying that you agree (strongly/somewhat) with the statement, ‘ I personally support Project Pioneer'?

Base: Agree with the statement 'I personally support Project Pioneer' (n=463)

Support CCS

Good for people/ family/ future

All other positive mentions

Not familiar with it/ need more information

Other

Nothing

Don't Know

2%

2%

6%

19%

3%

1%

3%


REASONS FOR NOT SUPPORTING PROJECT PIONEER

Disagree with the idea/ the whole concept

Doesn't deal with the bigger problems/ not

long term/ there are better ways

Unproven technology

Too expensive



19%

16%

10%

9%

8%

7%

27

E10. Why do you say that? What is the main reason for saying that you disagree (strongly/somewhat) with the statement, 'I personally support Project Pioneer’?

Base: Disagree with the statement 'I personally support Project Pioneer‘ (n=239)


Paid for by government/ taxpayers

May hurt environment

Not familiar with it/ need more information

Other

Nothing

Don't Know

7%

6%

2%

30%

1%

1%

2%


18%

55%

PERCEIVED SAFETY RISKS OF CCS VS.

OTHER ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE

More safety risk

About the same

21%

5%

2011 (n=800)

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F1. Energy infrastructure can be found in locations all over Canada. This includes oil and gas wells, oil and gas pipelines, electricity generation plants and electricity transmission lines. Compared to this type of infrastructure, do you think the potential safety risks of a Carbon Capture and Storage facility would be about the same, more or less?

Less safety risk

Don't Know

Base: All respondents


Yes41%

Don't know7%

COAL VS. NATURAL GAS FIRED GENERATION

Yes

29%41%

No52%

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F2A. Coal is used to produce electricity in Alberta and five other Canadian provinces. Do you think that Alberta should shut down the plants which generate electricity using coal and replace them with plants that use natural gas instead?


F2B. What if I told you that Alberta has a supply of inexpensive coal that will last hundreds of years? Knowing this, do you still think Alberta should shut down the plants which generate electricity using coal and replace them with plants that use natural gas instead?

Base: Think that Alberta should shut down the plants which generate electricity

using coal and replace them with plants that use natural gas instead (n=330)

2010

No = 47%

2010

No = 58%

No

62%


COAL AND THE BENEFITS OF CSS – AIDED

32% 43% 75%11%13%23% 74%

Don’t know

I would personally support expanding the use of coal in

Canada if using CCS meant that it would have no more impact on the

environment than other ways of producing energy

2%


2010

30

F3. Please tell me whether you personally strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each of the following statements.


20% 40% 60%17%21%38% 59%If CCS was used to reduce the

carbon dioxide emissions, I would personally support expanding the

use of coal in Canada to help address our growing energy needs

3%


Questions?

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Webinar slides - Public perceptions of CCS: Polling results from the Project Pioneer in Alberta, Canada