Carbon Capture: What is it and why is it important?

This image shows a large industrial chimney emitting smoke or vapor, surrounded by a forest. The depiction suggests themes related to carbon capture and climate change. Carbon capture technologies are designed to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions from sources like power plants, reducing the impact on the environment and helping to mitigate global warming.

Carbon Capture and Storage: A Crucial Technology for Climate Change Mitigation

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is an innovative technology that plays a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. This process involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from large industrial sources, transporting it, and storing it safely underground.

How CCS Works

CCS operates in three main steps:

Capture: CO2 is separated from other gases at industrial facilities or power plants.

Pre-combustion capture: This involves capturing CO₂ before fuel is burned. It’s commonly used in chemical and gas processing industries.
Post-combustion capture: CO₂ is captured after fossil fuels have been burned, typically by using a solvent to absorb the CO₂ from the flue gas.

Transport: The captured CO2 is compressed and transported via pipelines or ships.

Storage: The CO₂ is then injected into deep geological formations such as the depths of the North Sea. This is known as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).

Other common storage options include:

Depleted oil and gas fields: Old fields no longer producing oil or gas can be repurposed to store CO₂.
Saline aquifers: Deep underground rock formations that are filled with saltwater can securely store large quantities of CO₂.
Basalt formations: Some projects inject CO₂ into basalt rock, where it reacts with minerals and turns into solid carbonate rock.

As of 2024, there are 29 operating CCS facilities worldwide, with a cumulative capture capacity of nearly 40 million tonnes per annum. The technology is expanding rapidly, with over 100 facilities in various stages of development across different sectors.

CCS is particularly important for hard-to-abate industries like cement and steel production, where few other viable solutions exist for reducing emissions. It also offers the potential to remove CO2 already present in the atmosphere through direct air capture technologies.

While CCS shows promise, challenges remain in scaling up the technology to meet global climate goals. However, with continued investment and development, CCS has the potential to significantly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change.

Recently, the UK government has committed nearly £22 billion over 25 years to develop two carbon capture clusters in Merseyside and Teesside. The projects aim to capture and store emissions from energy, industry, and hydrogen production, creating jobs, attracting private investment, and advancing the UK’s climate goals. Sir Keir Starmer, joined by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband in the northwest, stated that this initiative would revitalise industrial regions and stimulate economic growth. BBC News.

The European Union’s Net-Zero Industry Act mandates a 50 million tonnes per annum CO2 storage target by 2030. As technology advances and policies evolve, CCS is expected to play a key role in achieving net-zero emissions targets.

Why is Carbon Capture Important?

Carbon capture is important because it plays a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. Some of the key reasons for its importance are:

Reducing CO₂ Emissions: Carbon capture technology captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from sources like power plants and industrial processes before they are released into the atmosphere, thus reducing the overall carbon footprint.

Climate Change Mitigation: By capturing and storing CO₂, carbon capture helps slow down global warming. Since CO₂ is a major greenhouse gas contributing to climate change, reducing its presence in the atmosphere is vital for meeting global climate goals, such as those set in the Paris Agreement.

Supporting Net Zero Goals: Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is considered an essential part of achieving net-zero emissions targets, as it can address emissions from hard-to-abate sectors like steel, cement, and chemicals, where reducing emissions is particularly challenging.

Enabling Cleaner Energy Production: Carbon capture allows for the continued use of fossil fuels with a reduced environmental impact. This can make the transition to a more sustainable energy system smoother by balancing the need for reliable energy while reducing emissions.

Carbon Utilisation: Captured carbon can be used in various industrial processes, such as enhancing oil recovery, producing synthetic fuels, or even making building materials. This creates economic value while reducing emissions.

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