Escape from the Valley of Death: The Case for a Geological Storage Mandate in Australia

Geological storage is essential for net zero, alongside rapid and drastic emission reductions, and nature recovery. However, right now, geological storage is stuck in the “valley of death”: the gap between proven technology and large-scale commercial deployment. Markets and subsidies on their own have not been enough to scale storage to the level needed for net zero. A Geological Storage Mandate could change that. Mandates are proving some of the most effective tools for scaling critical net zero technologies – they help provide a level playing field and the certainty needed to de-risk investment. This article explores how a mandate framework could unlock Australia’s potential to lead the world in geological storage.