Understanding Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Its Role in Combating Climate Change

Introduction

With the rising urgency to combat global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, carbon capture and storage (CCS) has emerged as a significant technology in the fight against climate change. As one of the key tools to lower carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in the atmosphere, CCS targets emissions from industrial processes and fossil-fuel-based power generation. By capturing CO₂ and storing it deep underground, CCS prevents it from contributing to global warming. This article delves into the fundamental aspects of CCS, its benefits, and how it can support global efforts to meet climate targets, such as the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement.

What is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)?

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a three-step process that involves:

1. Capturing CO₂ from power generation and industrial processes, such as steel or cement production.
2. Transporting the captured CO₂ through pipelines, ships, or other means to designated storage sites.
3. Storing the CO₂ permanently in deep geological formations, where it is prevented from re-entering the atmosphere.

These steps are essential to CCS as a carbon reduction strategy, offering a pathway to store emissions that would otherwise contribute to climate change.

The Importance of CCS in Reducing Global Warming

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), achieving the 1.5°C target set in the Paris Agreement requires not only reducing CO₂ emissions but also actively removing CO₂ from the atmosphere. While renewable energy sources like solar and wind are essential in this transition, industries such as steel, cement, and oil refining are difficult to decarbonize without CCS. Thus, CCS can play a vital role in reducing emissions where renewable energy solutions may be insufficient or currently unfeasible.

How Does CCS Work? The Three-Step Process

1. Capturing CO₂

The first step in CCS involves capturing CO₂ from sources that produce significant emissions, such as:

• Power plants that burn fossil fuels like coal and natural gas.
• Industrial facilities producing cement, steel, or chemicals.

During capture, CO₂ is separated from other gases produced in these processes. Technologies such as pre-combustion capture, post-combustion capture, and oxy-fuel combustion enable the separation of CO₂ before, during, or after combustion.

2. Transporting CO₂

Once captured, the CO₂ is compressed to make it easier and safer to transport. CO₂ is commonly transported through pipelines and, in some cases, by ships to storage locations. Pipelines, which have been used safely for transporting gases for decades, are generally preferred for CO₂ transport due to cost efficiency and the ability to handle large volumes.

3. Storing CO₂

The final stage of CCS is the safe and permanent storage of CO₂ in geological formations deep below the Earth’s surface. Suitable storage sites include:

• Depleted oil and gas reservoirs – geological structures left after oil and gas extraction.
• Saline aquifers – porous rock formations filled with salty water that can hold CO₂ safely.

These geological formations are typically over a kilometer below ground and are selected based on their ability to securely trap CO₂ over the long term.

Where is CO₂ Stored in CCS?

Notable storage sites for CCS projects include saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas fields. For example:

• The Zero Carbon Humber project in the UK uses a saline aquifer known as Endurance. Located 1.6 kilometers below the seabed, Endurance is capable of storing vast amounts of CO₂ and could play a significant role in the UK’s decarbonization plans.
• In the United States, CCS sites include the Citronelle Project in Alabama. This deep saline reservoir, nearly 2.9 kilometers underground, provides a secure site for long-term CO₂ storage.

These storage sites are rigorously selected and monitored to ensure the safety and permanence of CO₂ containment.

What is Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS)?

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) takes CCS a step further by reusing captured CO₂ rather than solely storing it. CCUS allows CO₂ to be transformed into valuable products, such as:

• Plastics
• Concrete
• Biofuels

By reusing CO₂, CCUS has the potential to make industrial processes more sustainable and add economic value to captured emissions. This approach provides an alternative to permanent storage by incorporating CO₂ into various products and materials, potentially offsetting additional emissions.

Is CCS Safe?

The Global CCS Institute has validated CCS as a safe technology, noting that it has been in operation for over 45 years. The institute confirms that each component of the CCS process has been safely and effectively used on a commercial scale, thanks to advancements in engineering and geological sciences. Strict monitoring protocols ensure that storage sites remain secure, with environmental safeguards in place to minimize risks.

Global CCS Projects and Future Development

The deployment of CCS projects has expanded significantly in recent years. As of 2022, the Global CCS Institute reported:

• 194 large-scale CCS facilities worldwide, with 30 already operational and others under construction or in development.
• A substantial increase in CO₂ capture capacity, reaching 244 million tonnes per annum, a 44% growth from the previous year.

Most CCS projects are concentrated in the Americas, particularly in the United States, with additional projects in Europe and Asia-Pacific. The number of operational facilities is expected to grow as countries and industries prioritize carbon reduction.

The First CCS Facility: A History of Carbon Capture

The first CCS facility was established in 1972 at a natural gas processing plant in Texas, USA, where more than 200 million tonnes of CO₂ have since been captured and stored. This historical achievement marked the beginning of CCS as a viable tool for carbon management and set the stage for the development of CCS technologies used globally today.

Challenges and the Future of CCS

While CCS offers tremendous potential, there are several challenges to its widespread adoption:

1. High Costs: Implementing CCS is costly, particularly for industries with tight profit margins. However, innovation and policy support are expected to reduce costs over time.
2. Infrastructure: CCS requires extensive infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities, which can be challenging to build in certain regions.
3. Public Perception and Regulatory Hurdles: Public concerns about safety and regulatory barriers can also slow CCS development.

Despite these obstacles, the future of CCS appears promising, especially with the rising demand for carbon-neutral and carbon-negative solutions. As countries commit to reducing emissions, investment in CCS technologies is projected to increase.

Conclusion

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) represents a critical pathway to achieving climate goals and reducing global CO₂ emissions. By capturing, transporting, and permanently storing CO₂, CCS prevents harmful emissions from reaching the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. As industries face pressure to decarbonize, CCS, alongside renewable energy, energy efficiency, and other carbon-reduction measures, will be instrumental in meeting ambitious climate targets. With advancements in technology and a growing number of projects worldwide, CCS continues to be a viable option for industries and governments aiming to curb emissions and mitigate global warming.

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