Logan Webber
Will Carbon Capture and Storage give us another vector for attacking climate change?
Environmental Degradation
Climate Change
As the world races to reduce emissions, carbon capture and storage (CCS) offers a controversial but increasingly critical option for tackling industrial and legacy emissions. The basic premise of CCS is to capture carbon dioxide – either directly from emission sources or the atmosphere – and store it safely underground. The technology dates back to the 1970s, but large-scale implementation has been limited to applications such as coal-fired power generation and fertilizer production. CCS complements clean energy technologies by enabling decarbonization of sectors like cement, steel, and aviation that are otherwise difficult to electrify. Once CO2 is extracted, liquefied, and transported, it can be stored in former oil and gas reservoirs or other suitable geological formations.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology allows the safe underground storage of CO2 emissions, which can help to curb the effects of climate change. Source: Solartronisa.com
A few dozen large-scale CCS projects currently exist, storing around 45 million tons of CO2 annually – roughly equivalent to taking 10 million cars off the road. Europe’s Longship CCS Project is one such endeavor. Longship is based in Norway and is funded by both government and industry. The project is now capable of capturing 1.5 million tons of CO2 annually. A similar project, Petra Nova, is operating in Texas with funding from the Department of Energy, NRG Energy Inc, and JX Nippon. However, massive scale-up of these technologies is required to meet IEA Net Zero Emissions targets.
To achieve this, comprehensive policies must drive CCS forward. The developing world, which currently accounts for two-thirds of global carbon capture, would benefit greatly from international carbon pricing and credit schemes, ensuring that clean energy transitions remain equitable. Transportation infrastructure, particularly pipelines, must be constructed to efficiently move CO2 from points of capture to long-term storage. Finally, CCS cannot become an “energy crutch” allowing continued fossil fuel dependence and greenwashing; rather, it must be used to supplement other clean energy solutions.
Carbon capture & storage isn’t a silver bullet – but if supported by smart policy, built on solid infrastructure, and used responsibly, it could become a key pillar of deep decarbonization.
The IEA projects that current growth trends may allow CCS to reach the required capacity for its Net Zero Emissions scenario by 2030. However, long project lead times remain a hindrance. Source: IEA Net Zero Roadmap 2023
The IEA has found promising trends for CCS capacity and deployment, with emerging markets and developing economies leading the way. Source: IEA Net Zero Roadmap 2023
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