by In the face of the growing climate crisis, there is an urgent need to not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also actively remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs) hold promise in addressing this challenge, and among them, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) stands out as a crucial approach to achieving carbon neutrality and mitigating the impacts of climate change. According to Coherent Market Insights, the carbon capture and storage market was valued at US$ 1.76 Bn in 2021 and is forecast to reach a value of US$ 4.3Bn by 2030 at a CAGR of 10.6%between 2022 and 2030.
Understanding Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS):
CCS is a process that involves capturing CO2 emissions from various industrial sources, such as power plants, cement factories, and refineries, before they are released into the atmosphere. The captured CO2 is then transported and stored in geological formations deep underground, effectively preventing its release into the air. The three main stages of CCS are capture, transportation, and storage.
- Capture: CO2 capture technologies are classified into three types – pre-combustion, post-combustion, and oxyfuel combustion. Pre-combustion capture involves converting fossil fuels into syngas, from which CO2 is captured. Post-combustion capture captures CO2 from the flue gases emitted after the fuel is burned. Oxyfuel combustion burns the fuel in pure oxygen, resulting in a CO2-rich exhaust stream that is easier to capture.
- Transportation: Once captured, the CO2 is compressed and transported via pipelines or ships to suitable geological storage sites.
- Storage: The final step involves injecting the compressed CO2 deep underground into geological formations like depleted oil and gas reservoirs, saline aquifers, or unmineable coal seams. Here, the CO2 is stored securely and permanently, reducing the risk of it returning to the atmosphere.
The Importance of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS):
CCS plays a vital role in mitigating climate change and achieving global climate targets. Despite efforts to transition to renewable energy sources, certain industrial processes and sectors still heavily rely on fossil fuels and are challenging to decarbonize completely. Carbon Capture And Storage provides a bridging solution, allowing these industries to continue operations while significantly reducing their carbon footprint.
Moreover, CCS can also be retrofitted to existing power plants and industrial facilities, making it a viable option to address emissions from legacy infrastructure. It helps prevent the emission of large amounts of CO2 that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.
The Potential for Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs):
While reducing emissions is essential, it may not be enough to limit global warming to the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. Negative Emissions Technologies are designed to go beyond emission reduction by actively removing CO2 from the atmosphere. These technologies are seen as critical to achieving carbon neutrality and even “net-negative” emissions, where more CO2 is removed than emitted.
Aside from CCS, several other NETs are being explored, such as afforestation and reforestation, which involve planting trees to sequester CO2, and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), where biomass is used as fuel, and the resulting CO2 emissions are captured and stored.
The potential benefits of NETs include:
- Balancing Remaining Emissions: NETs can help offset unavoidable emissions from specific industries or sectors, allowing for a more balanced approach to carbon neutrality.
- Carbon Removal: By actively removing CO2 from the atmosphere, NETs can help reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations, slowing down global warming and its associated impacts.
- Climate Restoration: In the long term, NETs have the potential to restore the climate to pre-industrial levels if deployed at a large scale.
Challenges and Considerations:
While the potential of Carbon Capture And Storage and other NETs is promising, several challenges and considerations need to be addressed for their widespread deployment:
- Cost: Implementing CCS and other NETs can be expensive, and cost reductions are essential for large-scale adoption.
- Infrastructure and Policy: Developing the necessary infrastructure for CO2 transport and storage requires supportive policies and regulations.
- Permanence and Leakage: Ensuring the permanent storage of CO2 and preventing leakage back into the atmosphere is critical for the effectiveness of these technologies.
- Land Use: Some NETs, such as afforestation, require significant land use, which could have implications for food production and biodiversity.
Carbon Capture and Storage, along with other Negative Emissions Technologies, offers a promising path to combat climate change effectively. By capturing and storing CO2 emissions and actively removing CO2 from the atmosphere, these technologies have the potential to drive the world towards carbon neutrality and even achieve negative emissions. However, it is crucial to address the challenges and consider the wider implications of deploying these technologies to ensure a sustainable and effective approach to combating climate change in the years to come.
Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. With an MBA in E-commerce, she has an expertise in SEO-optimized content that resonates with industry professionals.
