What is Carbon Capture and Storage?
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a technology that aims to capture the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by sources such as power plants and factories, and store it permanently underground, preventing it from contributing to climate change.
CCS is considered crucial by many influential organizations, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to reduce emissions from key sectors and avoid dangerous global warming.
Why is CCS important?
CCS is seen as one of the only viable options to decarbonize some of the world's most polluting industries, such as cement production.
The UK, for example, has committed to investing up to £21.7 billion over the next few decades in its emerging CCS industry, as part of its emissions neutrality strategy.
The Science behind CCS
CCS involves capturing CO2 emissions from a large source, such as a gas power plant or a cement factory.
The CO2 is separated from the facility's exhaust stream, usually using a chemical solvent, before being compressed into a liquid and transported via pipeline or vehicle.
The CO2 is then stored by injecting it into underground reservoirs, such as depleted oil fields or saline aquifers.
Broader Context
CCS is not a new technology, but its development and implementation have been slow.
In 2020, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that the history of CCS had been largely one of unmet expectations, with the technology not being deployed on the scale needed to have a significant impact on global emissions.
What happens next?
CCS is expected to play a significant role in reducing emissions from hard-to-decarbonize sectors, such as cement and steel production.
However, the technology still faces significant challenges, including high costs and the need for large-scale CO2 storage infrastructure.
Furthermore, CCS has been criticized for its connection to the fossil fuel industry and for potentially diverting attention and resources away from other more effective climate solutions.
UK Action Plan
The UK government has committed to investing up to £21.7 billion in its emerging CCS industry, as part of its emissions neutrality strategy.
The plan includes creating "clusters" of connected facilities in UK industrial areas, with the goal of reducing emissions from hard-to-decarbonize sectors.
Conclusion
CCS is a complex and controversial technology that may play a significant role in reducing emissions from hard-to-decarbonize sectors.
However, the technology still faces significant challenges and its implementation must be carefully considered in relation to other climate solutions.
Source / Reference
Original URL: https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-does-the-world-need-carbon-capture-and-storage-to-reach-net-zero
Source Name: Carbon Brief