Tim,
which is the lesser of two evils, fossil carbon or new carbon?
I'd argue that the only viable carbon capture process at the moment is biomass: far better to grow something for 5 to 10 years, capturing CO2 from the atmosphere and then burn it than to burn coal of oil or gas.
A lot of work and investment money is going into producing hydrocarbon fuel from water, CO2 and solar energy. I see that as comparable to biomass, using what CO2 we have and recycling it.
Ultimately, "green" energy, including nuclear and possibly fusion, are the ideal, but for the interim I prefer to reduce fossil carbon consumption rather than obsess about the degree of greenness.
We get our fuel from Octopus and our solar panels, this satisfies my green ambitions. But you are right, an electron in the grid and distribution network is an electron and it isn't labelled..
